Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 317

“I feel like collapsing.”

“You must take care of your health first, Your Highness.”

“It’s mental fatigue that’s building up. Surprisingly, progress is smooth, so don’t worry too much.”

The Crown Prince, having received full authority from the King, interrogated the remaining individuals involved and learned several new facts about the treason case from ten years ago.

It turned out that Buwongun had been involved in rebellions before.

During the treason ten years ago, in which Minister Kim Seon-ik was implicated, Buwongun joined late but provided only financial support without leaving any records.

‘Considering Buwongun’s personality, it’s a bit strange. What was he hoping to gain?’

In any case, Buwongun’s close aides all said the same thing, so it wasn’t a lie.

I wondered if this fact had any connection to the deceased Minister Kim Seon-ik, but it was a pity that no one knew for sure.

Buwongun himself might know, but he wasn’t the type to open his mouth easily.

‘I don’t think he’s in a state to open his mouth right now.’

Still, I felt a little relieved that I could clear Minister Kim Seon-ik’s name.

‘With this… Se-hwa will be free.’

Along with pure joy, there was also anxiety, but the Crown Prince tried hard to shake it off.

Around the Crown Prince, there were also many retainers who looked like exhausted wrecks from working overtime.

They were relieved that this treason case had passed safely, and they were struggling to arrest the traitors and quell the aftermath of the rebellion.

Since others with remaining crimes were also brought out and dealt with during this opportunity, it seemed that no one would block the Crown Prince’s path for a while, so everyone’s complexion was bright even though they were exhausted.

“Although many have already retired, some departments may suffer from a manpower shortage for a while.”

“I’ll have to find an excuse to hold a civil service examination [a special state exam held for national events or royal celebrations].”

One of them, already jumping to conclusions, asked with an excited voice at the Crown Prince’s words.

“Then, Your Highness, are you finally going to have a royal wedding?”

“Hey, things don’t happen just because you’re impatient.”

“Anyone who is loyal to Your Highness, not just this humble one, will be impatient.”

The Crown Prince, who was more impatient than anyone else but had not yet received a definite answer, poured cold water on the excited atmosphere with an apologetic face.

“…It’s not yet decided, so don’t put too much pressure on me.”

“Your Highness.”

“Besides, I feel like I’m going to die from overwork if I don’t resolve the treason case first.”

“Shall I call Physician Se-hwa?”

At Song Naegwan’s words, who seemed surprised that I was exaggerating, the Crown Prince quickly shook his head.

“No, don’t call her now. I’ll be busy giving her other tasks.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Even to Song Naegwan, who was always by his side, Seongwon Crown Prince’s work was a secret, so he couldn’t say where Se-hwa was.

I entrusted my brother to Se-hwa because I had no one else to trust, but I felt a little sad that I couldn’t deliver this good news to Se-hwa right away because she wasn’t in the palace.

‘It would have been nice if the whole story of this incident had been revealed. I don’t have much to tell Se-hwa.’

And the Crown Prince had no way of knowing that the matter would be revealed to Se-hwa through a completely different route.

***

“If it’s the treason case from ten years ago… it must be related to my maternal uncle.”

“Do you know something, Brother?”

I quickly clung to Seongwon Crown Prince, sensing that he knew something.

And realizing that Seongwon Crown Prince’s clothes were too thin for the weather, I quickly ushered him into the room.

Se-hwa and Cheon-ho, who had been standing far away until just now, followed me and Seongwon Crown Prince into the room.

I sat the Crown Prince down in the warm room and demanded a detailed explanation.

“Well, I might not remember it in great detail.”

“It’s okay if it’s not detailed, just tell me what you know.”

“Okay, all right.”

Seongwon Crown Prince looked flustered but soon opened his mouth, recalling his memories.

“I once heard from my maternal uncle when he was drunk. When he was plotting treason… he said it wouldn’t be difficult because he had done it before, and he mentioned the rebellion of Shinheo-do.”

“Shinheo-do? Who is that?”

I vaguely remembered hearing that there was someone who had caused a rebellion a long time ago, but I didn’t remember it that accurately.

“It happened before I was even born, so it’s not strange that you don’t know.”

If it was before Seongwon Crown Prince was born, it meant that there was no one here who had experienced it or even knew much about it.

“At the time, Father was the Crown Prince, and the late King was ill.”

In short, it was a rebellion that occurred when the royal family seemed weak, and there was no clear Crown Prince or heir.

“My birth mother, Queen Seonghyeon, was the Crown Princess at the time, but there was talk of taking in a concubine because she couldn’t produce a grandson.”

“Surely you’re not saying she joined hands with the rebels because of that?”

“Haha. My maternal uncle was definitely that kind of person. You know that, don’t you?”

He’s just badmouthing him now.

“Well, my maternal uncle was young, even immature, back then. The Crown Princess was my mother, but the powerful figure at the time was Hong Sang-jo. I don’t know if you remember him.”

“I know. He’s the father of the deposed Hong.”

“Yes. He’s related to me and my maternal uncle. At the time, Shinheo-do was gaining the trust of the late King and Father and gaining power, so he was naturally at odds with Hong Sang-jo.”

“Hmm. From what you’re saying, was it something Hong Sang-jo plotted?”

“According to my maternal uncle, it was. But the family of the Crown Princess, who had no heir and was in poor health, must have been anxious. My maternal uncle, unaware of this, reached out to the fabricated rebels.”

He did such a foolish thing?

“I heard that Minister Kim Seon-ik helped him not get involved at that time.”

Se-hwa’s body flinched when Minister Kim Seon-ik’s name came up, but I could see that she was clenching her fists with a calm expression.

I wondered if it would be better not to listen, but I urged Seongwon Crown Prince, thinking that if I were Se-hwa, I would want to know the truth.

“Minister Kim Seon-ik knew that my maternal uncle had done something foolish but buried it. Perhaps he pretended not to see it because it was the Crown Princess’s family… My maternal uncle was afraid that the truth would be revealed, but he was relieved to see Minister Kim quietly staying in an external position. But….”

I somehow felt like I knew what would follow.

“After my brother, the Crown Prince, died, my maternal uncle must not have liked the fact that Minister Kim Seon-ik’s daughter would become the Crown Princess of the newly appointed Crown Prince.”

“Yes. The forces that supported me along with my maternal uncle were originally not on good terms with the current Crown Prince, and he thought that if Minister Kim Seon-ik’s daughter became the Crown Princess, she would attack him for what happened back then, so he made the first move… or so he said.”

“!”

“!”

What should I do? There are two children of Minister Kim Seon-ik in this room right now.

‘If Se-hwa knows that the one who caused her father to die and her family to be ruined was that guy, won’t she poison him before he’s executed?’

I glanced at Se-hwa’s complexion. Se-hwa’s pale hands were trembling.

I was also concerned about Cheon-ho’s condition, who was behind me and out of sight, but I decided to focus on the conversation with Seongwon Crown Prince for now.

“So, what did he do?”

“He didn’t tell me the details, so I don’t know well… It happened after I left the palace, but I knew that Minister Kim Seon-ik was executed for treason, so I could roughly guess that my maternal uncle had done something.”

Um, I can roughly picture it too.

Perhaps the two people who were caught during the Yeongcheon-gun treason case moved according to Buwongun’s wishes in exchange for money, struck Kim Seon-ik, and received rewards for their achievements.

I thought those two seemed a bit insignificant to do something as big as treason. Maybe their maximum was just putting chopsticks on a table that someone else had set [doing the small, insignificant tasks in a larger scheme].

“How could this be….”

“Se-hwa, calm down.”

I held Se-hwa’s hand tightly, which was stiff with shock, and calmed her down.

At the same time, I glanced at Cheon-ho’s condition, but he seemed calmer than I thought.

I don’t know if he’s okay if you ask me.

Se-hwa asked Seongwon Crown Prince in a subdued voice.

“So, are you saying that he ruined our family for that reason?”