Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 61

I was born as the daughter of a low-ranking concubine. (61) [This likely refers to her birth order or some other ranking system within the concubines.]

As if anticipating my summons, Royal Guard Seong arrived promptly after I sent for him.

The rain had finally ceased, and the weather was pleasantly cool, so I decided to meet him outdoors.

“The sensational rumors about me—you spread them, didn’t you, Royal Guard Seong?”

“It is true that I informed His Majesty about the Princess providing shelter for beggar children,” Seong-yoon admitted readily, kneeling before me.

He seemed confident, as if he had something to rely on.

‘Of course, he couldn’t hide it if the King asked directly.’

The King is my biological father, and I am still considered a child. Even though the money is technically mine, the amount I’ve spent isn’t insignificant.

However, understanding and condoning are two different things.

“Let’s reconsider your position as a guest in my household.”

“Your Highness, Princess, please reconsider!”

Why must he disturb my peaceful days?

Seong-yoon bowed his head, perhaps a bit too deeply, and continued his excuses.

“Although I informed His Majesty, I did not reveal that the Princess was secretly venturing outside the palace.”

Hmm. He’s asking for leniency, is he?

“Putting aside informing Father, what about spreading rumors throughout the capital?”

“If you are referring to the widespread rumors in the capital, I assure you, it wasn’t me…”

Where is he trying to weasel out of this?

Before Royal Guard Seong could offer any more excuses, I cut him off.

“I provided you with delicious food and promised a guaranteed retirement, yet you repay my kindness with betrayal.”

“How could I defy the Princess’s wishes? However, this matter was difficult to conceal. Who in the vicinity would be pleased to hear that a shelter for beggars is being built?”

“Hmm.”

Ah, there must be a NIMBY [Not In My Backyard] phenomenon here, too.

Most of them are children, but since they are all beggars, people might disapprove. A large group of children will inevitably be noisy.

“Moreover, although many rejected the conditions the Princess set, more people gathered than expected. Everyone wanted to know who initiated it. When I heard that the Princess sent lacquer boxes [expensive, decorative boxes often used as gifts] to the officials, I thought it best to inform them first.”

He meant that if the information came too late, I might be suspected of using charity to curry favor and create sympathetic public opinion, so he spread the rumors preemptively.

“So, you deliberately spread the rumors for my sake?”

“I apologize, but that is correct.”

“Then why did you just deny it?”

“That is…”

Seong-yoon hesitated.

“It wasn’t me, but the children…”

“…The children?”

“When I mentioned it was for the Princess, they became excited and spread the word.”

“No, you had innocent children do such a thing? What if something happens to them!”

“Please do not worry. Nothing that would concern the Princess has occurred. It’s only natural for people to ask the children who provided the shelter, and the children simply told the truth. And since it was the Princess’s work, wouldn’t everyone naturally speak favorably of it?”

Providing shelter for beggar children is a good deed, so it’s natural that most people, except for the directly affected residents, would praise it without resistance.

“They’re doing things I didn’t even ask them to do.”

“If I only did what you asked, I wouldn’t have made it back alive,” he said, exaggerating slightly.

He went so far as to say that, so I couldn’t keep nagging him.

Besides, what he said wasn’t wrong. It bothered me that he acted without my explicit instructions, but he hadn’t done anything to harm me.

‘The fact that public opinion about me was better than I thought might not have been a coincidence.’

An orphaned princess who lost her biological mother early in her young age is trying to help orphans without parents—who would criticize that?

Moreover, if ordinary people who didn’t know much about me heard about the lacquer boxes I sent after hearing that information, most would react positively rather than negatively.

‘Deliberately?’

I stared at Seong-yoon with suspicion.

Usually, this type of person is called a hardworking subordinate. Of course, some might feel uncomfortable and cut them off early.

But for me, he is a moderately useful type of talent.

‘However, I don’t know why he’s being so sincere and good to me.’

I really have nothing to give, you know?

Since it’s already done and there’s no one else I can trust with the task, I can’t tell him to stop now.

In fact, providing shelter, bringing in children, and managing the place is no easy feat.

“So, what’s the atmosphere like there?”

“Once I announced that it was the Princess’s work, no one dared to treat them carelessly.”

So, that means they were treating them carelessly before.

I proceeded a bit flamboyantly, so I was doubtful whether this matter could pass quietly.

‘I’m a strange person by this era’s standards.’

One reason my actions became such a topic was probably the unique conditions I set for providing shelter to beggar children.

[First, always boil water before drinking it in the summer.

Second, wash your body with clean water at least once every seven days except in winter.

Third, everyone must work together to secure a certain amount of firewood.

Fourth, do not fight in the shelter.

Fifth, do not commit illegal acts – bad deeds.

Sixth, learn and master everything you are taught.

Seventh……]

I was particularly strict about hygiene.

In addition, I made it clear that anyone over a certain age must earn money, whether by collecting firewood or doing something else.

‘Somehow, this has become an orphanage… no, a childcare center.’

Likewise, quite a few adults wanted to enter the shelter, but they all quit after hearing just a few of the conditions.

I documented those conditions and demanded a signature (手決: handwritten signature)… but it’s difficult because they don’t know how to write, so I asked for a fingerprint (指掌: thumbprint) instead, which must have made the adults uncomfortable.

You might think, “Are you in a position to be picky when you’re a beggar?” but in a world where people sell themselves into slavery (自賣) when it’s hard to make a living, some prefer to live as beggars even if they starve a little.

So, most of the people in the shelter I prepared were orphans, the sick, and women. When I asked the nearby doctors to care for the sick, many flocked to them.

‘The kids who know me seem to have come in believing in me, and the rest seem to have followed the kids who were close to them… I should teach them to be more cautious in the future.’

Seong-yoon hired some of his old colleagues with the money I gave him to manage the place, so I was less worried about trouble.

‘I also want to hire someone to educate the children.’

I had a rough idea of who I wanted, but I didn’t know if they would accept.

Anyway, I couldn’t increase the number of people who knew about my behind-the-scenes actions, and it seemed clear he had acted for my benefit, so it was hard to be angry.

“I’m telling you, I don’t like scheming in places I don’t know about.”

I think everyone would dislike that.

“I apologize, Your Highness. But how could I visit the Princess without being summoned?”

He speaks well.

In principle, that’s true, but since many people enter and leave the inner palace, it wouldn’t be impossible to get a message to my court ladies if he devised a method.

For example, he couldn’t possibly be unaware that I or my palace staff frequently visit the Saboksi (司僕寺) [Office of Provisions] to check on the enemy’s condition.

Above all, I didn’t think someone without significant skill could manage espionage.

‘Why is he so proactive in my work in the first place?’

I would understand if he was trying to get on the Crown Prince’s good side.

I stared at Royal Guard Seong, who was still politely asking for forgiveness, with complicated feelings.

If he thinks he might catch the Crown Prince’s eye by being by my side, I feel sorry for him, but he didn’t say that himself, and what can I do if he regrets it later? He’ll figure it out.

There was no one else suitable to give this unprofitable job to right now.

“Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“Okay, depending on how you perform from now on.”

“Is there any doubt about that?”

As the serious conversation concluded, Song-bi entered with a small table.

The savory smell made the Royal Guard turn his head involuntarily.

“You’re here, so have some snacks before you leave.”

“It smells different from before.”

“Um, it’s a new creation. But some people refuse to eat it.”

The Queen Dowager refused it again today. What a waste.

Just the smell alone is so savory that the Queen Dowager’s palace servants were swallowing their saliva.

Hearing my words, Seong-yoon had a look of realization, as if he had heard some rumors.

“…”

“Try it.”

I picked up my chopsticks first.

Seeing Seong-yoon’s eyes already smiling with anticipation as he looked at the food, he was worth feeding.

I put a piece of warm bread, not perfectly shaped but yellow and glossy, into my mouth.

The moist bread soaked in egg mixture melted softly.

‘This is also a bit of a failure, but it’s delicious when you eat it like this.’

Still, Song-bi’s skills were gradually improving.

If I leave her alone, I wonder if she’ll create something on her own? If I had more flour, I would try this and that, but it wasn’t easy to take risks.

Looking ahead while eating French toast, Seong-yoon, who had put a piece in his mouth, was twitching his cheekbones.

“The egg rice cake was delicious, but this is also very delicious!”

“That’s a relief. But it’s hard to make, so I’m not going to make a lot of it.”

“Is it difficult to make?”

“It’s difficult… and a little finicky.”

Those flour doughs… are affected by temperature and humidity.

I forgot about that, but since I don’t have a thermometer or hygrometer, I honestly can’t use it even if I remembered it.

Of course, kneading bread is also difficult, and you have to age it.

I want to give up because I can’t make it sometimes, but Song-bi, who was next to me, made a face as if she had gained some enlightenment after doing it a few times.

What is it? What did you realize?

I’m glad she’s having fun, though.

“If you need any help with strength, please call me.”

“…Don’t do that, go and work.”

He seems to not miss his salary because he received a lot of money when he was a Chetam-in [a type of military officer], but still, let’s work, Royal Guard.

When I refused him coldly, Royal Guard Seong, who had devoured the food I had brought out, looked disappointed.

The French toast must have been quite delicious. Come to think of it, the court ladies in my residence all shook their heads and liked it.

After the last incident, I also brought it to the Queen’s Palace, and the Queen honestly enjoyed it. The Queen Dowager is still refusing it.

‘It’s not that I’m not worried, but it’s difficult to attack me as long as the King and the Crown Prince are healthy.’

It seems that the fact that I collapsed after eating poison will continue to be used as a get-out-of-jail-free card in the future.

The Crown Prince will hate it, though.

And as soon as I thought of him, I heard the person in question’s voice.

“It’s amazing to see Royal Guard Seong in a place like this.”