There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 64

Afterward, I briefly exchanged greetings with Yi Bang-won and returned to the East Palace.

Yi Bang-won seemed to have a terrible headache regarding the Gye Mi-ja [bronze movable type] issues, so I withdrew without bothering him.

I summoned the kitchen maids to the East Palace.

“Is there plenty of oil left?”

Although it had undergone a detoxification process, I always made sure to mix cottonseed oil with other oils at a certain ratio, considering the risk of not completely removing its toxicity.

However, could one expect the regulations to be followed?

If oil was insufficient, people would resort to adding cottonseed oil to compensate.

‘It would be a disaster if the royal family ate it and got sick.’

There would be no more absurd accident than suffering from diarrhea after cooking with cottonseed oil without permission.

Therefore, I had ordered that the oil production in the royal palace be strictly managed.

Still, there should have been at least two or three pots worth of oil made before I went down to Hanyang.

At my question, the faces of the kitchen maids hardened.

“I have something I want to make, so bring the oil.”

“Well, Your Highness. That is······.”

“Hey, why are you hesitating like that?”

Even though I scolded them, the kitchen maids only fidgeted.

What’s wrong with them?

“Your Highness, there is no oil left in the kitchen.”

“What? You’re saying that all the oil I made before I left is already gone?”

Feeling unexpectedly held back, I felt my forehead furrowing involuntarily.

“That is, there have been many requests for fried chicken (炒鷄) [stir-fried chicken] these days······.”

I had already heard the story once from Yi Bang-won, but I still couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded.

How many chickens did they fry?

‘Chicken is understandable, but.’

It might be a devastating taste for Joseon people, but they should still know what moderation is.

I blamed the kitchen maids.

“Then you should have filled the quantity on time, keeping the ratio. Ugh······!”

This is why I can’t entrust work to others.

‘I was going to have chicken for dinner.’

“Forget it! Then make braised chicken and bring it to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Don’t forget to make and bring the oil too.”

In the end, I couldn’t start the experiment until I had dinner.

And I couldn’t even dream of having my favorite spicy braised chicken, but only soy sauce-soaked braised chicken.

‘I will definitely change the food culture of this country entirely.’

I need to quickly explore the New World and get some chili peppers.

It was close to delusion now.

The dish I was going to make today could also be seen as part of that food culture improvement.

Making Gaeseong Juak [Korean donut] was not a difficult task.

Umeagi, or Gaeseong Juak, is made by kneading glutinous rice flour with makgeolli [Korean rice wine], frying it in oil, and coating it with jocheong [grain syrup] or honey to make it sweet.

‘The taste and manufacturing method are no different from glutinous rice donuts.’

So I can make other donuts too.

I mixed other flours with glutinous rice flour, kneaded it appropriately, kneaded it diligently, and then separated it into large chestnut-sized pieces.

And after a quarter of an hour (15 minutes), I flattened the round dough and put a handful of red bean paste inside.

‘Now all that’s left is frying.’

The oil that the maids were bringing and boiling seemed to have reached the right temperature.

– Sizzle! Sizzle

The smell of oil wafted as the donuts were dropped in.

I used chopsticks to separate the donuts so they wouldn’t stick together, and fried them until they were well colored.

“Whew, the color is good?”

I whistled as I scooped them out with a strainer.

As I said, the donuts were colored in a delicious brown color despite being the first attempt.

When I bit into it as a test, the red bean filling conveyed sweetness to my tongue.

‘These old-fashioned donuts need to be coated with sugar on the outside.’

But it is very difficult to get sugar in this era.

Damn it, I wish sugar was as easy to get as salt······.

I felt there were too many shortcomings, both when I ate braised chicken earlier and now.

I’ll have to go overseas by boat to get what Joseon doesn’t have.

‘Come to think of it.’

Isn’t there a huge event happening in China soon?

===

As a token of encouragement for working hard, I gave out the donuts I made as a test, and cheers erupted.

The reaction was much better than Gaeseong Juak.

Besides, I even made twisted breadsticks.

When I took a bite of the deliciously twisted breadstick, the jocheong applied to the outside first emitted a sweet taste, and the savory taste of the walnut pieces embedded here and there was added.

The oil that was generously soaked in while frying in the pot was a bonus.

The officials devoured the donuts and twisted breadsticks without looking back.

Even the officials of the Hanyang Construction Office, who had tasted all the good things so far, sucked their jocheong-covered fingers and admired them repeatedly.

“Your Highness, this is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten!”

‘Of course, everything tastes good when fried.’

“I felt it when you made fried chicken last time, but Your Highness is truly a great cook!”

Choi Hae-san said, stuffing twisted breadsticks into his mouth.

‘Of course.’

I puffed out my chest and said, “Ahem.”

Since I have seen and eaten quite a few dishes in modern times, I wouldn’t starve to death anywhere even if I just made and sold these.

‘In an era without entertainment, even the gourmet scene is poor, so people can’t help but be drawn to the food I make.’

This capital of food culture was the new goal that Gaeseong should aim for.

“Live in Hanyang, play in Gaeseong.”

Hanyang is a planned city, so palaces, government offices, fortresses, and markets were mainly built, and bringing such entertainment had to be a lower priority.

Even in later generations, Pyongyang and Gaeseong were the most famous for entertainment.

Of course, no matter how cheap the oil price became, it was impossible to eat these foods on a daily basis right away.

‘In the long term, if the oil production increases, everyone will be able to enjoy it.’

So the target was the wealthy and high-ranking people.

They were also the ones who led various food cultures.

And the place where they often visited and enjoyed expensive food was······.

“Wouldn’t it be good enough to put it out even in the high-nosed Gaeseong Giru [traditional Korean courtesan house]?”

After all, it would be Giru.

Even if food circulates in the palace, it will not easily spread outside.

The officials’ faces changed strangely at the word Giru.

‘He’s already talking about Giru······.’

‘Is he becoming like His Majesty······?’

“It’s because of the business I’m planning!”

I protested, feeling wronged.

Giru in this era is not just a place to sell laughter, but a place that provides comprehensive art······that’s what my uncles said.

‘Honestly, I don’t think they go there to enjoy playing the gayageum [Korean zither] and reciting poetry.’

The real purpose may not be that.

“I have something important to discuss, so have the Giru owners brought in.”

Then Heo Jo said with a serious face.

“If you call them to the palace, there will be a lot of talk in many ways······.”

“Ah, I guess so.”

Even Baek Dal-won, who is treated as a meritorious subject, could not enter the palace because of the officials who talked about lowly merchants, let alone the Giru owners.

“Damn it, then I’ll have to go there.”

There is a possibility that there will be rumors that I am going to do something wrong, so I have to make sure to keep my mouth shut.

Gaeseong has been famous for its gisaengs [female entertainers] since ancient times.

“Your Highness, such a place is not where a gentleman should set foot. Originally, one must cultivate oneself, manage one’s family, and govern the country······.”

Heo Jo, who was fastidious, said so, but I was angry and shouted.

“No, I’m not going to enjoy entertainment, but I’m going for work, so what’s the problem?”

“What the Crown Prince says is absolutely right. If that’s the case, shouldn’t Judge Heo just step aside?”

Hwang Hee quickly stepped forward and said.

Then he winked at me.

“Don’t worry. I will prepare the best gisaengs.”

‘No, I just need to meet those presidents [owners].’

Why is he making a fuss himself?

===

However, Hwang Hee’s words were not just a boast.

He really secured the best Giru in Gaeseong and gathered all the gisaengs who were said to be the best.

I was embarrassed because I was just trying to have a quiet business conversation.

‘Judging by the fact that he knows who is doing well, he must have been a regular customer.’

I clicked my tongue.

Hwang Hee, an ordinary official, cannot hold such a big event, so he must be trying to enjoy it by selling my name this time.

“Isn’t that woman Cho Gung-jang (楚宮粧) [a famous gisaeng’s name]?”

“Is she famous?”

When I asked casually, Choi Hae-san answered.

“She is the most popular gisaeng in Gaeseong. I heard that even a high-ranking member of the royal family is coveting her······. Now that the Crown Prince has come, even such a person is coming.”

A high-ranking member of the royal family.

Please don’t let it be my father.

I wanted to create a quiet place, but if even such a celebrity comes, rumors will spread.

I glared at Hwang Hee, but Hwang Hee didn’t notice and shouted with a happy face.

“You must serve this precious person well today! If you serve His Highness well, you can even get Baekjabu [a type of face powder]!”

“Oh my, that precious Baekjabu?”

No wonder the Giru owners were grinning.

They must be thinking that if they win my favor this time, they can get Baekjabu.

“Apply it if you want your face to be smashed.”

Even now, there were several artisans who were dragged to Gullak [prison] for trying to steal Baekjabu.

Since I divided the process and made it unnecessary for only skilled artisans to handle it, I newly recruited a large number of people, but the accidents were mainly caused by them.

‘The existing artisans strangely avoid touching my things.’

Rather than avoiding it, I should say they revere it.

It was unexpected, but it was a relief because it wasn’t a bad thing.

“I will sing a song!”

“Eolssigu! [a Korean exclamation of excitement]”

Hwang Hee was playing well without saying a word, and the fastidious Heo Jo was drinking alcohol without anyone next to him.

Meng Sa-seong was surprisingly weak in alcohol, and his face was flushed red, and he kept asking the gisaeng sitting next to him something.

‘Is this some kind of meeting?’

I didn’t intend to drink alcohol from this age, and I didn’t intend to pour alcohol before the business, so I just drank tea.

Since I had rejected all the older sisters who were trying to show the dignity of their age, there was only one child serving tea next to me.

Noticing that there was a delicious smell coming from my arms, the child kept glancing at me.

“Do you want to eat it?”

The surprised child shook his head.

– Grumble

However, the stomach clock couldn’t help it.

I haven’t even shown it to those people yet.

Well, one is okay.

After thinking for a while, I held out the food in my arms.

“This is called Donachu [donut], and this is called Twisted Breadstick.”

When I urged, the child picked one up and put it in his mouth.

“Ah······.”

The girl had a happy expression as the chewy texture spread in her mouth.

She ate the donut like a whirlwind, but she kept looking at me, as if one was not enough.

“Yes, eat as much as you want.”

The child’s face lit up at my words and picked up another one.

– Gulp!

And then she looked at me again.

“Yes, eat one more. It’s okay.”

Then this girl picked up another one and swallowed it.

After eating this, she reached for the donut without looking at me.

‘How much are you eating?’

At this rate, there won’t be enough for those presidents to taste.

I was about to subtly take the donut back from her when.

“Shut up!”

A loud voice was heard from outside.

“Do you know who this person is and dare to make excuses and humiliate him! Bring Cho Gung-jang out right now!”

“Oh my, Cho Gung-jang is still serving a guest. Please wait a moment······.”

“Shut up!”

It seemed that the guest was having a serious argument.

“Heo, it’s a mess. Your Highness, may I take a moment to check the situation?”

I was annoyed because things kept being delayed before I could bring up the main point, but I nodded.

However, the situation did not improve even after the owner left.

Rather, a louder voice joined in.

“Rotten things,,,!”

It seemed that the higher-ups had stepped in directly because things kept going wrong.

“Stop talking,,,and bring,,,Cho Gung-jang,,,quickly,,!”

Uh?

This voice?

I opened the door and went out.

Then there were bodyguards with broad shoulders standing there, and behind them was a man with a physique that was comparable to the bodyguards.

Above that, a familiar face greeted me.

“Uh······.”

This absurd situation where an uncle and nephew meet at a gisaeng house.

“It’s been a while, Former King Jeongjong.”

“······.”

“Have you been well?”

Jeongjong’s face, which met me, was filled with surprise, and then turned red as if he was furious.

“You!”

“?”

And he trembled with his hands, then pointed at me while looking at me.

“You young man,,,are already chasing women,,,,!!”

No, what about you?

End

ⓒ Pitkong