There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 230

“Y-Your Highness?”

As I stood there, clutching the Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner with my hands covered in mud, the bewildered people called out to me.

However, I couldn’t help but be taken aback by this bewildering situation.

‘Why is this here? And now of all times?’

If I were to speculate, I could venture a guess.

It had been passed down that this place was an old temple site, but I had heard that before the Ouchi clan built a shrine here, it was just rice paddies.

It must have been buried under the rice paddies for about 800 years without anyone knowing, and then unearthed during the construction of the shrine.

‘Is this also a butterfly effect I created?’

I don’t know when the Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner was originally discovered, but it certainly wasn’t in this era.

If it had been, it would have been swept away by the countless requests for aggression from barbarians during the Japanese and Manchu invasions.

Even relics like Jikji [the oldest known book printed with movable metal type], which had avoided all those conflicts, were stolen by French friends who came all the way from the other side of the world on a ship.

“This land is where a divine object has appeared. Erect a gold rope to prohibit the passage of commoners and strictly control access.”

In any case, what’s done is done.

I ordered the surroundings to be thoroughly preserved for the sake of cleaning up the aftermath.

I know that if relics are found in one place, there is a high probability that other relics will also be found.

This was a necessary measure to prevent looting or damage.

Especially since we can’t excavate and investigate it right now.

‘People in this era wouldn’t even think about breaking such prohibitions.’

They fear ‘being cursed and dying for violating sacred ground’ more than they listen to the government.

Besides, it’s not easy for commoners to enter the shrine in the first place.

As I carefully wiped away the dirt, the incense burner revealed its form.

Even I, who am not particularly interested in relics, was impressed when I saw it at the National Museum, so the people of this era were even more moved.

“Is this a relic from the Baekje Dynasty?”

“Heavens, how could they have done this back then!”

I can vouch for that.

Modern historians must have thoroughly verified it.

Since this place was originally the royal capital of Baekje, people seemed to understand.

“It’s as if a master craftsman descended from the heavens to create this.”

“It is truly a divine object in itself.”

The incense burner was so intricately made that most people were amazed that such a thing could have been made in the old days.

However, instead of admiring its beauty, some people paid more attention to the fact that the relics of Baekje had appeared now.

“Your Highness.”

Eo Byeon-gap, who was next to me, said with a serious face.

“Is this really a Baekje incense burner?”

“Yes.”

I have no proof, though.

But it will be revealed someday.

I will order the excavation site to be preserved as much as possible, and in the future, things like carbon dating will be invented.

Although that will be after we are all old and dead.

However, Eo Byeon-gap shook his head and said.

“In my opinion, it is not a relic of Baekje, but an object given by heaven for our royal family.”

I stared at Eo Byeon-gap, wondering what nonsense he was talking about.

“Look at this exquisite craftsmanship. How could the ancient Baekje people have made something that even the most skilled artisans today would find difficult to create?”

‘I saw it in modern times, you know?’

I wanted to say that, but I couldn’t.

I could only beat my chest in frustration.

Regardless, Eo Byeon-gap continued.

“The fact that Your Highness has stayed here and heaven has caused an auspicious event to occur, revealing a divine object, is no ordinary omen.”

It’s true that it’s no ordinary omen.

I’m racking my brains over how to keep this thing safe until the future without losing it.

“Your Highness, please think about it. How can this be a coincidence?”

It’s really a coincidence.

It’s the result of history being twisted due to a strange butterfly effect.

After lightly ignoring Eo Byeon-gap, who was looking at me with eyes that seemed to be on some kind of drug, I turned my attention to the real problem.

‘How do I preserve this?’

I think this was a national treasure or treasure in modern times.

At least until then, I have to keep it safe without getting it stolen or smashed.

I sighed.

This is really troublesome.

===

“Your Highness, Your Highness. Please listen to me.”

“Enough.”

I already know what you’re going to say.

You want this Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner.

After establishing diplomatic relations with the Ouchi clan, I realized that the Ouchi clan is surprisingly serious about cosplaying as descendants of Baekje.

It’s not just that they’re pretending to be ‘we are family’ for the sake of trade with Joseon – although that’s a big reason – they genuinely believe they are descendants of Baekje and are promoting that internally.

‘But a relic that is like a symbol of that era came out of a shrine dedicated to the King of Baekje?’

I can’t stand this.

Ouchi Mitsuyo was about to commit seppuku [ritual suicide by disembowelment] in front of me.

“Eight hundred years have passed since the fall of Baekje. The fact that the incense burner appeared as soon as the descendants returned to this land is a sign that heaven has arranged for the descendants to continue the ancestral rites.”

‘Stop talking nonsense.’

In the first place!

The reason why the incense burner popped out now is because history has been twisted strangely, okay?

From Eo Byeon-gap to Ouchi Mitsuyo, everyone is talking about the will of heaven, which is really ridiculous.

But my answer was already set.

‘Am I crazy? Am I going to give this away?’

Even though I’m having a headache over the problem of preserving the Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner, giving it to the Ouchi clan is another matter.

Why would I give our country’s treasure to them?

Even Yi Bang-won or the officials in Hanyang would give the same answer.

“Your Highness…”

I quickly avoided Ouchi Mitsuyo, who was trying to grab my pants.

“Didn’t this come from our shrine…? You must guarantee our share.”

Ouchi Mitsuyo shouted as a last resort, but I was firm.

We’re going to take it and use it for good things, okay?

“When performing ancestral rites, all you have to do is put your heart into loving and respecting your ancestors. Why do you need to be so obsessed with divine objects? If you really want one, we have many skilled artisans in our military supplies department, so we will have them make a good incense burner to use for ancestral rites and send it to you.”

Ouchi Mitsuyo eventually gave up in the face of my stubborn attitude.

I guess I’ll just make a replica and send it to them.

Now that I’ve invented electroplating, I can make it as beautiful as the original and send it to them, which will alleviate some of the complaints.

In fact, even a fake will become a relic after hundreds of years.

===

The story that I discovered the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner spread throughout Buyeo.

Most people reacted as Eo Byeon-gap did, considering it a very auspicious sign.

‘Hmm.’

I was worried that if it became a topic of conversation, something might go wrong, even though it was me, not my father, who discovered it.

If I were Yi Bang-won, I wouldn’t feel so comfortable.

If my father does another abdication show, I’m really going to cry.

‘You want me to go through that hardship again?’

When I think about it, I only remember eating glutinous rice cakes with Heo Jo, but it was very difficult anyway.

“The fact that the divine object has reappeared in the world after eight hundred years is all thanks to my father’s virtue, which has moved heaven. Quickly report this news to the court and have it strictly guarded and transported.”

I used Eo Byeon-gap’s logic to give all the credit to Yi Bang-won and gave those instructions.

It had been preserved almost perfectly because it had been buried in the mud all this time, but Joseon’s relic management technology was far behind that of modern times, so I was worried.

‘Fortunately, it’s not made of materials that rust or corrode easily.’

Even in this era, if it is properly managed, it should be possible to preserve it until modern times.

‘As long as a war doesn’t break out and Hanyang doesn’t become a sea of fire.’

Even if it didn’t happen in the original history, I must make sure it never happens in my country.

As the cart carrying the incense burner departed, Yi Seong-gye said.

“What kind of omen do you think this is?”

“Grandpa, are you saying that too?”

It’s hard for me, who always lives rationally, to understand, but it seemed to be an event that people in this era would never accept as a coincidence.

Especially for someone like the King Emeritus, who became king through various fortuitous events.

“Omens and signs can be interpreted in any way you want.”

It’s like an earring if you hang it on your ear, and a nose ring if you hang it on your nose.

But Yi Seong-gye shook his head.

“That’s not true. There were many miraculous and auspicious signs even before I gained the country.”

“Grandpa, how can you really believe those words…”

Isn’t it normal to create signs that a new king will ascend to the throne when a country is founded?

I’m just going to inherit an existing country, so what do these signs have to do with me?

Yi Seong-gye muttered after hearing my words.

“Since there has already been a founding, what this means is not the founding. Perhaps it means something more…”

“Yes?”

“No. I’m going to Silleuksa anyway, so I’ll ask Great Master Muhak.”

As Yi Seong-gye shook his head, I asked.

“Do I really have to go with you?”

I sent the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner off first, but I was worried about whether it would arrive safely, so I wanted to follow it quickly.

But Yi Seong-gye said firmly.

“Of course you have to go with me.”

It was as if he was saying that the thread must follow the needle.

“I have something important to ask Great Master Muhak for advice.”

“I think you can go alone for that kind of thing…”

If I go through Yeoju instead of going straight to Hanyang, the route will be greatly curved.

‘What on earth is going on?’

Considering that he asked for the King Emeritus’s permission, there must be something that requires power.

But my expectations were easily off.

===

Yeoju, or rather Yeoheung, is surprisingly a land that I have a connection with.

‘Our maternal family is the Yeoheung Min clan.’

That’s why my maternal grandfather’s title is Lord Yeoheung, isn’t it?

But our maternal family is in Hanyang, not Yeoheung, so I headed straight to Silleuksa without stopping anywhere else.

When I headed to Silleuksa, the monks and villagers greeted us enthusiastically.

I was so dumbfounded by this welcome.

‘Isn’t this not something to be so happy about?’

I don’t know what the later kings were like, but Yi Seong-gye enjoyed staying in temples when he went on tours.

Of course, the temple had to provide lodging and convenience, and even if they gave donations accordingly, it wasn’t something to be happy about because serving the king was no easy task.

However, the monks of Silleuksa generally showed us favorable gazes.

It’s definitely not my imagination.

Of course, the King Emeritus is a devout Buddhist, and I am the one who gave the monks, who were about to die out in the era of Confucianism and the suppression of Buddhism, a respirator, so the temple might see me favorably.

But looking at that ‘finally alive’ expression, it doesn’t seem to be for that reason.

“Tell him that I have come to see the Great Master.”

As soon as Yi Seong-gye shouted, an answer came from somewhere.

“There’s no need for that.”

Suddenly, the monks parted, and Great Master Muhak slowly walked out between them.

“It’s been a while, King Emeritus. And Crown Prince. Please forgive my rudeness for not coming out to greet you in advance.”

Great Master Muhak put his hands together towards us.

This monk has also aged a lot since I first met him.

“Don’t worry about it. In front of the Buddha, we are all the same disciples.”

“Thank you for understanding, King Emeritus.”

“Yes, what’s going on, Royal Preceptor? Is there a magistrate harassing the monks around here?”

Muhak scratched his shiny head with difficulty at Yi Seong-gye’s question.