There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 250

The Joseon Dynasty follows the Iilyeokwolje system [a shortened mourning period] for state funerals.

This means that instead of observing a full three-year mourning period of 27 months, the mourning is completed in just 27 days, with one day representing one month.

Realistically, the king must attend to state affairs and cannot spend months in mourning like the scholar-officials.

‘In this era, many commoners, even Yangban [aristocrats], are ending things with the 49th-day memorial service.’

Although Buddhism was discouraged after the establishment of Joseon, religious customs rooted for over a thousand years could not be eradicated overnight.

Even scholar-officials versed in Confucianism often conducted their family funerals in a Buddhist style.

Yi Seong-gye, a Buddhist himself, probably preferred that, but conducting royal funerals that way was another matter.

Anyway, since they didn’t observe the full three-year mourning themselves, the officials, sensing the situation, petitioned for the Iilyeokwolje first. Thanks to this, my father and I ended the mourning in 27 days.

Of course, this isn’t the end.

“Now, we must send a court eunuch to build a hut near the royal tomb and observe mourning for three years······.”

Even with a reason, it felt like a guilty conscience, so instead of the king, a court eunuch is sent to build a hut and live near the tomb.

The period is also three years.

But here, I received an unexpected proposal.

“The late King Taejo cherished the Crown Prince greatly, so shouldn’t we send a separate court eunuch to observe mourning?”

“If His Highness shows such filial piety, the people will praise the affection between grandfather and grandson.”

Filial piety is almost an absolute virtue in this era.

The idea is to highlight my special relationship with Yi Seong-gye to assert my presence.

It’s not like I have to observe the three-year mourning myself; the eunuch does the work, and I get the fame. It’s a brilliant plan.

“Well, my relationship with the late King Taejo was indeed special.”

I said, looking at Nobun, who was standing beside me.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Nobun’s face turned pale.

No matter how much of a yes-man he is, no one wants to spend three years guarding someone else’s parents’ tomb.

Especially leaving this comfortable Crown Prince’s residence.

“Just kidding, you idiot.”

I would go myself before making someone else do filial piety for me.

“Whew, only Your Highness would say that.”

Nobun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He’ll complain less now.

Nobun is like a grumpy Smurf, so I have to keep him in line once in a while so he appreciates his comfortable job.

“His Majesty has already appointed the court eunuch for the royal tomb.”

I said, shaking my head.

It’s good to maintain a filial image and assert my presence as the successor, but that would significantly diminish my father’s authority as the head of the family.

More than anything,

I didn’t want to exploit my relationship with Yi Seong-gye in that way.

“The late King Taejo’s tomb is in Yangju, so I can visit anytime I want. I don’t think I need to send a separate court eunuch.”

If Yi Seong-gye had requested in his will to be buried in his hometown of Hamheung, I would have pushed for it, even with unreasonable measures.

But in the end, my grandfather didn’t do that.

I don’t know what changed his mind.

Maybe he wanted me to visit often.

‘Well, the old man must be quite lonely in Hamheung by himself.’

Memories with my grandfather flashed through my mind.

Yi Seong-gye crying his eyes out when I teased him for losing the rebellion the first time we met, Yi Seong-gye acting like a spoiled brat when he lost at Al-kkagi [a Korean stone-flipping game], Yi Seong-gye pretending to have dementia, Yi Seong-gye grabbing my collar when I caught on and countered······.

I tilted my head.

‘Why are these the only memories I have?’

Do other people usually build memories with their grandfathers like this?

Yi Seong-gye was the only grandfather I had, so I wouldn’t know.

‘No, what’s normal anyway? What criteria can I use to judge?’

Everyone is different, and that’s what makes them great.

From that perspective, the old man and I had a truly exemplary grandparent-grandchild relationship.

I was nodding vigorously with my eyes closed when I suddenly felt a soft touch on my forehead.

“Are you okay?”

I opened my eyes slightly and saw Ju So-hwa placing her hand on my forehead.

“What······ is there anything to be not okay about?”

I answered, slightly averting my gaze.

I’m more than okay.

I had sorted out my feelings while my grandfather was ailing, and he left without regrets, cheerfully, so there’s no better send-off than this.

I’m really okay, but it’s a headache if she asks me about this every single time.

“But······.”

I abruptly pulled Ju So-hwa into my arms as she was about to say something again.

The throbbing of a living human being, alive, was transmitted through my chest.

“Wife.”

I couldn’t hold back and opened my mouth because of the unknown emotions surging from where we were touching.

“Live a long life.”

“······Okay.”

I hope my voice didn’t tremble.

Ju So-hwa’s hand, which was holding me, slowly stroked my back.

Thank goodness.

There was a lot of work piled up during the mourning period.

Humans are amazing creatures. When they see work right in front of them, they can’t help but immerse themselves in it.

Come at me, I, the Crown Prince of this nation, will face you with my trained martial arts.

Until the emotions and memories fade away appropriately.

===

“When the news of the late King Taejo’s passing reached the people of the Northeast, they all voluntarily wore mourning clothes and wept.”

The first to seek me out after the news of Taejo’s death were the local magnates and Jurchens of the Northeast.

Transportation to Hamgyeong Province isn’t very convenient yet, but seeing them arrive in Hanyang just a month after the mourning period, they must have prepared and come down as soon as they heard the news.

“It’s truly commendable.”

“It’s only natural. Taejo was a hero of the Northeast.”

Choi Heung-rip, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, said that.

He was also a distant relative of Yi Seong-gye’s maternal family and had served as a vassal in Hamgyeong Province for a long time, so his face was full of sorrow.

However, he was also a man of ambition, bearing responsibility and coming all the way to Hanyang.

Even in the midst of sadness, we couldn’t just keep talking about mourning.

Choi Heung-rip straightened his posture and bowed his head.

“As the late King Taejo said during his lifetime, all the local officials of the Northeast have resolved to follow Your Highness.”

He continued with a determined expression.

“Now, the only one we can trust is the Crown Prince, so please accept our loyalty.”

Seeing Choi Heung-rip go this far, they must be quite anxious in Hamgyeong Province due to the death of the late King.

Hamgyeong Province was the farthest from the central government and had the least influence, so if I cut them off, the Northeast would 그대로 [as is] degenerate into a frontier region of Joseon.

“I have already taken you as my people in front of the late King Taejo. That promise will not be broken, so rest assured.”

Iri Bukha, who came to Hanyang with Choi Heung-rip, had a similar purpose.

“We Jurchens also wish to honor the Crown Prince as the successor of the late King Taejo.”

“Were there any who opposed it?”

Until now, the Jurchens had been kept under Joseon’s control, but this was based on Yi Seong-gye’s personal charisma.

So, if there were any who couldn’t accept this and rebelled, it would be a big headache.

“The Jurchens all remember Your Highness hosting the Nadam [a traditional festival] with the late King Taejo. How could the Jurchens, who witnessed Your Highness’s martial prowess there, dare to change their attitude?”

After Yi Seong-gye first revived the Nadam, it was held every year under the auspices of Choi Yun-deok, the Bukgye Byeongmasa [Northern Border Military Commander].

However, it was less grand than when the king hosted it, and it didn’t become as much of a talking point as the first Nadam, when both the late King and the Crown Prince attended.

I defeated Juchi of Tainingwei with wrestling techniques back then.

I wonder what he’s doing now.

“The late King Taejo also emphasized the integration of Joseon and the Jurchens in his will. Treat my uncle as if he were family and keep him well under control.

Especially Meng Temu······ It seems that Mнтэрму will be returning to the Jurchens from Japan soon.”

“While Mнтэрму was away, his younger brother Pancha has established quite a base. It will probably not be easy for him to regain the initiative even if he returns.”

Iri Bukha boasted like that.

“The Bukgye Byeongmasa’s troops are nearby, and the Jurchens’ economy is maintained through Hoshi [trade markets]. Considering the practical benefits, there will be no one who defects.”

I felt a little relieved after hearing Iri Bukha’s words.

It seems that I can continue to uphold Yi Seong-gye’s will.

“You have worked hard to come all the way here. Now I will directly oversee the affairs of the Northeast, so if any problems arise, don’t worry and let me know frankly.”

Both Choi Heung-rip and Iri Bukha were relieved by my bold words.

After achieving their goals, the two paid their respects at Geonwolleung, the tomb of Taejo, and returned.

Next was the Buddhist community.

“We cannot hide our dismay at the passing of the late King Taejo, who was the protector of Buddhism······.”

With Muhak, the leader of the Buddhist community, and Yi Seong-gye, a strong supporter, leaving within a few months of each other, they couldn’t hide their anxiety.

Seeing them eagerly anticipating a meeting with me, the Crown Prince, they seemed to want some kind of security guarantee.

“As Muhak said, if you continue to help the people and fulfill your duties as you do now, there will be no oppression.”

Why would I cut off Buddhism and monks, who are so useful, just to gain the favor of the Confucian scholars?

The monks repeatedly expressed their gratitude and returned after hearing my words.

Up to this point, it was a process of taking care of personal forces connected to me.

However, there were also more official duties remaining.

‘Diplomacy.’

An envoy had already been sent to the Ming Dynasty to inform them of the late King’s passing.

The Yongle Emperor is so obsessed with expeditions that it’s not clear what he’s doing or where he is now, but an imperial envoy in charge of condolences will come from the Crown Prince, who is in charge of state affairs.

Along with the posthumous title bestowed by the Ming Dynasty.

Originally, I would be anxious about whether the guys who came to offer condolences would cause trouble, but with my wife, the youngest daughter of the late Emperor Taejo, there’s no chance of that happening.

I really made a good marriage.

I don’t think I could have stood it in that situation.

The Ming Dynasty will grasp the situation through our envoy, discuss the posthumous title, and then select and send their own envoy, so it will be a while before the envoy arrives.

The first condolence envoy to arrive was our lackey, the Ouchi clan.

As soon as the news reached Buyeo, Ouchi Mitsuyo, who was at the Baekje Three Kings Shrine, came up immediately.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t an envoy sent from the Ouchi mainland, but that’s what they were sent to Buyeo for in the first place.

Like our lackey, Ouchi Mitsuyo praised and mourned the achievements and virtues of the late King Taejo in a very respectful manner and then returned to his home.

‘Besides that.’

Majapahit also became friends with us, so I wonder if they will send a condolence envoy, but the distance is so far that I don’t know if the news has reached our territory.

Even if they send an envoy, they will probably arrive much later.

There was another country we were waiting for.

“Your Highness, an envoy from the Ryukyu Kingdom has arrived.”

“They’ve finally come.”

Yi Bang-won clicked his tongue and glared at someone.

I was the same.

The gaze of our father and son was directed at the meritorious subjects huddled in the corner, looking flustered.

Yi Bang-won, who turned his gaze back, said.

“Let the Ministry of Rites present the received national letter.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Heo Jo, the Vice Minister of Rites, respectfully presented the national letter.

The lengthy national letter began like this.

– We have just had a joyous occasion in the south, and now we hear the news of the death of the heavens! What an unbelievable thing this is.

I, the King of Ryukyu, On Sado, send my deepest condolences in writing······.

Yes, it’s not the King of Namsan.

None other than ‘King of Ryukyu’ On Sado sent an envoy.

I rubbed my forehead.

How did this happen?