Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 141

Zzanggeura

Hellobam

141. The Crown Prince Runs, I’m the King, the Officials Roll (3)

As soon as Hyang suggested creating a dining hall where people from the research institute, palace maids, and eunuchs could eat together, the censors [officials responsible for monitoring the bureaucracy] rose up in protest.

“This is against etiquette! How can the Crown Prince of a nation dine with his inferiors?”

Hyang responded exactly as he had told Sejong, not deviating even an inch from Sejong’s expectations of the censors’ remarks.

-Firstly, there is the issue of hygiene. No matter how much we use individual dishes, there could be hygiene problems.

-Secondly, although we eat together, it’s not at the same table, just the same place. The usage times are separate for me and the research staff, as well as the palace maids, eunuchs, and royal guards.

-Lastly, this is just my personal opinion, but those who work in the palace also hold ranks. How can we treat them like beggars?

At Hyang’s explanation, the censors looked at Sejong. Sejong, receiving their gaze, defended Hyang.

“I also think the Crown Prince’s opinion makes sense. Looking back, it’s common for subordinates to skip meals when their superiors do. Moreover, the meal times are extended due to the passing down of dishes, so how can we not find this wasteful? The issue of hygiene is already pointed out by various medical books and physicians, so I won’t say more.”

With Sejong also defending Hyang, the censors’ voices lost their strength. However, they continued to harp on etiquette.

“But, in terms of etiquette….”

As the censors continued to cling to etiquette, Sejong added.

“What is the origin of passing down dishes? It is the king sharing his precious food with his subjects. This is the king showing his affection and trust to his subjects through actions. The dining hall created by the Crown Prince is not just about eating together, but can be seen as a grand gesture of sharing meals, wouldn’t you agree?”

Sejong’s logic silenced the censors, as they were defeated in reasoning.

On the day Hyang’s grand dining hall in the East Palace was completed and began its first operation, Sejong left Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main throne hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace] and headed to the East Palace.

“Welcome.”

As Hyang, who had been waiting, bowed, the Crown Princess, the Consort, the Concubine—titles for the Crown Prince’s concubines—along with Jeong Cho and the research institute staff, and the eunuchs and palace maids, all prostrated themselves in unison. The royal guards guarding the East Palace offered their respectful greetings.

“We greet His Majesty!”

“Rise!”

“You all have worked hard.”

Those who had paid their respects straightened their postures at Sejong’s reply.

Sejong, after encouraging those working in the East Palace, especially in the research institute, turned to Hyang.

“Let’s take a look at that dining hall.”

“Yes, Father.”

Guided by Hyang, Sejong toured the dining hall.

While looking around the communal dining hall, which was structured by expanding the East Palace’s kitchen and connecting the dining space, Sejong asked Hyang questions.

“You’ve divided the dining hall into several sections?”

“Yes, Father. No matter how much we eat together, it’s burdensome for lower-ranking individuals to eat with higher-ranking ones.”

“Is that so?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang answered firmly.

“Yes, it is.”

Among those following behind, the lower-ranking officials nodded in unison.

‘Eat with that weirdo? I’d rather drink poison!’

‘Not only do I get scolded during work hours, but now I have to eat scolding instead of food during meal times?’

“However, wouldn’t sharing meals and having conversations strengthen bonds and allow us to discuss work matters?”

“Meal times are for rest. We need to rest to improve efficiency.”

“That’s also true.”

Sejong nodded in agreement at Hyang’s answer. When Sejong didn’t mention it further, the lower-ranking officials unknowingly sighed in relief.

“Hoo~.”

Meanwhile, Hyang explained the sections to Sejong.

“This section is where I and Minister Jeong Cho, along with officials of the third rank or higher, dine.”

“It’s neat.”

Touching the gleaming tables and chairs, Sejong nodded and moved to the next section with Hyang’s guidance.

Continuing to examine the sections where mid-level and low-level officials ate together, as well as the sections where eunuchs and palace maids ate, Sejong kept asking Hyang questions.

“You’ve separated the palace maids’ section?”

“Yes, according to etiquette….”

“Well done, well done…. But isn’t the space too cramped?”

“We will divide the personnel and assign shifts for them to take turns eating.”

“Hmm…. So, what are the meal times?”

“From around 11 AM to 1 PM.”

“That’s good. Come to think of it… it’s almost 11 AM now, isn’t it?”

Sejong glanced at the clock on the wall and turned to Hyang.

“Since I’m here, I should have lunch before I go.”

“Please do.”

Hyang readily replied. At that moment, Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji, who were standing behind, turned pale.

‘Damn it!’

Sejong washed his hands at the washstand prepared on one side, picked up a tray with Hyang’s guidance, and moved along the distribution line, filling it with rice and side dishes.

Every time Sejong stood in front, the cooks and palace maids bowed deeply, and Sejong said with a smile.

“Do not stand on excessive formalities during meal times. I came to eat, not to receive bows.”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

As he received rice, soup, and side dishes, Sejong was intrigued.

“It’s interesting. You can get more or less side dishes as you want. If done properly, we can reduce waste.”

“That’s right. By the way, Father, please take some more lettuce.”

“Crown Prince….”

“It’s for your health, Father. You need to eat your greens to….”

“Put more on! Put a lot on!”

Interrupting Hyang, Sejong ordered the cook in a voice full of annoyance. Looking at the pile of lettuce on his tray, Sejong glared at Hyang.

“Even a dog isn’t bothered when eating.”

“Well, dogs aren’t bothered because they bite, aren’t they? As I’ve said before.”

“Anyway, if only you couldn’t talk….”

Muttering at Hyang’s interference, Sejong saw the griddle at the end of the distribution line and beamed.

Delicious-looking pork belly was being grilled on the griddle, making a loud sizzling sound.

“Oh ho~. Grilled pork?”

“Yes.”

“Pork also has its own flavor. Fill it up.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong filled his brass tray with rice, vegetables, and grilled pork belly and took a seat at a table with Hyang.

“It’s quite unique with layers of fat and meat. What do you call it?”

“We call it three-layered pork [Samgyeopsal, Korean for pork belly].”

Hyang showed Sejong how to wrap the pork belly in lettuce and eat it.

Sejong showed interest in Hyang’s explanation and made a wrap.

“Is it already the season for lettuce?”

“We grew it experimentally in a glass greenhouse. The yield is good.”

“I see. Well…. The market says, ‘Autumn lettuce is so delicious you close the door to eat it.’ I wonder how early lettuce will taste.”

Sejong layered several lettuce leaves to make a large wrap, placed grilled pork belly and thinly sliced garlic on it, added some soybean paste with chopsticks, rolled it up, and put it in his mouth.

Hyang stared with his mouth open at the enormous wrap entering Sejong’s mouth.

‘No! Are you doing a punishment like those comedians on mukbang [eating broadcast] shows! Is that a one-bite challenge!’

Sejong chewed and swallowed the incredibly large wrap in just a few bites and exclaimed while making a new wrap.

“It’s really delicious!”

* * *

After enjoying lunch at the dining hall and even enjoying coffee in Hyang’s room at the East Palace, Sejong returned to Geunjeongjeon Hall at a leisurely pace.

“His Majesty is arriving~.”

At the Chief Eunuch’s call, the officials waiting inside Geunjeongjeon Hall checked their attire and bowed.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

At Sejong’s words as he ascended the throne, receiving their greetings, Lee Jik shook his head.

“Not at all. How was the lunch you had at the East Palace?”

“It was truly flavorful. If you all have time, you should stop by….”

Sejong, who was happily expressing his impressions, suddenly stopped talking and fell into thought.

“Your Majesty?”

Concerned by Sejong’s sudden silence, Lee Jik cautiously called out to Sejong. Sejong raised his hand and said.

“Wait a moment.”

At Sejong’s words, the officials looked at Sejong with anxious faces.

‘What is he going to do again!’

‘Whenever His Majesty and the Crown Prince are together!’

The officials were making silent screams with terrified faces.

Whether he knew the situation or not, Sejong, who had been deep in thought for a while, opened his mouth.

“We must install dining halls like the one in the East Palace in Geunjeongjeon Hall and the Six Ministries.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t the work of the court a task that consumes a great deal of mental energy? I have lunch as a matter of etiquette, but it’s a big problem that you and the officials of the Six Ministries don’t. If you consume too much mental energy, your energy will also drop quickly. If we create dining halls like the one in the East Palace and have you eat lunch, wouldn’t it replenish your energy?”

At Sejong’s words, the officials pondered.

‘It’s not a loss.’

The officials, thinking it wasn’t a loss, agreed to Sejong’s proposal.

“As you wish!”

In this way, dining halls were created in Geunjeongjeon Hall and the Six Ministries.

With the creation of the dining halls, the officials’ reactions were mostly favorable. However, some wore reluctant expressions.

“What’s wrong? You’re just counting rice grains.”

The official, who had been picking at his food, replied to his colleague’s question.

“I feel like I’m eating fodder given to cows before plowing the fields.”

“Why would you say that….”

* * *

One deep night, as March was slowly turning into April.

“I can’t sleep well. Chief Eunuch, let’s take a walk.”

“Yes.”

Before going to bed after finishing his work, Sejong quietly left Gangnyeongjeon Hall [the King’s residence] and began to walk.

Sejong’s steps, after looking around Gyeongbokgung Palace, headed towards the gate tower of Gwanghwamun Gate [the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace]. Sejong’s eyes, watching the night view of Hanseong [old name for Seoul] from the gate tower, turned towards the location of the Six Ministries.

“The lights are still on.”

“I hear many officials are working late these days.”

“Is that so?”

Sejong listened to the Chief Eunuch’s reply and began to walk again.

The next morning.

As soon as the morning assembly began, Sejong spoke about the scene he had seen yesterday and asked the Chief State Councilor.

“Are there many officials working so late?”

“Not a small number, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm~. Then they must be tired. Do the officials have a place to sleep?”

“Each government office has a night duty room, but the number is not sufficient.”

“Hmm…. That’s a problem. They’re working so hard, but they can’t even rest properly….”

As Sejong made a pitiful expression, the officials prayed inwardly.

‘Please, reduce the workload!’

‘Just reduce the work a little!’

“Hmm…. What should we do….”

Sejong, who had been pondering for a while, came to a conclusion.

“Build buildings in each government office to be used as night duty rooms. Place bunk beds in the night duty rooms so that as many officials as possible can rest comfortably. And provide washrooms for simple washing.”

“…I obey your command.”

The officials were answering with tearful voices.

The officials who heard Sejong’s order were also tearful.

“He made us eat at the government office, and now he’s telling us not to go home!”

“The children don’t even recognize their father’s face!”

“I’m going to submit my resignation right now….”

Although they said they would write a letter of resignation, the officials could not write it.

The moment they wrote a letter of resignation and left the official path, many benefits from pensions would disappear.