Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 193

As mentioned before, in the year of Gyeongsul [one of the sixty-year cycle years in the traditional Korean calendar], Yong received the title of Grand Prince along with the name ‘Anpyeong.’

Having become independent from the palace, he rejoiced in his own residence.

“Now I can do what I’ve always dreamed of!”

What he had dreamed of was gathering troupes of entertainers from all eight provinces of Joseon [historical Korean kingdom, 1392-1897] to watch their performances.

Ever since he was young, Anpyeong had been captivated by a performance of a traveling troupe, and he made a fuss about wanting to become one of them.

To stop him, Queen Soheon, as well as Sejong, even used the whip. However, Anpyeong’s stubbornness did not waver.

“Like father, like son… What to do with him?”

In the end, Hyang, unable to watch Queen Soheon and Sejong’s worries any longer, had to step in and coax Anpyeong.

“If you follow the teachings of the royal tutors well and achieve academic success, I will personally arrange for you to see the performances of the traveling troupes!”

Hyang’s coaxing worked perfectly, and Anpyeong diligently studied.

Of course, Hyang didn’t just end with coaxing. Every time Anpyeong finished one of the scriptures he had to study, he would invite a traveling troupe near Hanseong [old name for Seoul, the capital] to perform, as a sort of celebration.

Whenever there were such performances, the women of the palace, including Queen Soheon, would also join to watch the talents of the traveling troupe.

It served as one of the few refreshing moments in the stuffy palace life where there wasn’t much to see.

* * *

Anyway, after receiving his title and becoming independent, Anpyeong immediately put into action what he had been harboring in his heart.

“I must see all the traveling troupes in Joseon!”

However, Anpyeong couldn’t just summon all the traveling troupes from across Joseon simply because he wanted to.

The road conditions in Joseon were still poor. Therefore, the traveling troupes were largely divided into Giho (Gyeonggi Province, Hoseo), Namdo (Yeonghonam), and Seodo (Hwanghae Province, Pyeongan Province), and within them, small and large groups were divided and active in the provinces. (Note 1)

As a result, Anpyeong was still left wanting. He had called and watched all the famous traveling troupes in the Giho region, but he hadn’t been able to see the others.

“If they can’t come, why don’t I just go! I’m already independent, aren’t I?”

Having made up his mind, Anpyeong soon packed his bags and began to look for the traveling troupes.

As Anpyeong moved like that, the most pitiful person was his wife, Lady Jeong of Yeongil.

Not long after their marriage, her husband was out and about, forcing her to live an unexpected widow-like life.

* * *

Anpyeong’s unusual behavior immediately reached Sejong’s ears.

“I must punish this rascal!”

As soon as he received the report, Sejong immediately sent someone to summon Anpyeong. However, upon hearing the report that he had gone to Namdo to see a traveling troupe performance, Sejong immediately sent a dispatch to the Jeolla Provincial Army.

-As soon as you find Anpyeong, send him to Hanseong!

-To prevent any possible danger, send him with strict escort.

The true meaning of the second order was well known to both Sejong, who sent the dispatch, and the Military Commissioner who received it.

– That rascal! He might stray, so tie him up tightly and send him!

The Jeolla Provincial Military Commissioner, who received Sejong’s dispatch, sighed.

“Hoo~. They say the most difficult farming is raising children….”

In any case, a royal order was a royal order. The Military Commissioner summoned his subordinate commanders and conveyed the order.

“Immediately dispatch soldiers and find Grand Prince Anpyeong!”

“Yes!”

It was only after ten days of receiving the order that Anpyeong was secured. The Military Commissioner, upon receiving the report, smiled slightly and looked at the Junggun [military officer].

“They say our Joseon land is small, but it seems that’s not the case.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“As soon as the Grand Prince arrives, let’s attach an escort and send him to the capital.”

* * *

And so, Anpyeong had to go up to Hanseong. Of course, under the guise of ‘escort,’ many cavalrymen surrounded Anpyeong and his servant.

“This is just….”

Anpyeong clicked his tongue, full of regret, but there was nothing he could do. The servant who was moving with him was pale and trembling as Hanseong approached.

“Have you caught malaria or something? Why are you trembling so much?”

“Lord! Aren’t you scared?”

“Why be scared… Wait….”

Anpyeong’s face, which had been nonchalant at the servant’s words, became serious.

‘Wait… He said it was a royal order?’

Anpyeong, who had been told by the Military Commissioner that it was a royal order, realized that he was in a crisis situation.

‘I guess I did wander around a bit too much.’

Anpyeong, sensing that he would be severely scolded by Sejong when he returned to Hanseong, turned to his servant.

“You seem to be trembling, so it looks like you have malaria.”

“Yes? I’m fine, though?”

“Shh!”

Anpyeong, urgently telling his servant to be quiet, whispered.

“You have malaria. Do you understand? You absolutely have malaria.”

“Yes? Yes….”

At Anpyeong’s words, the servant had no choice but to nod.

As soon as they entered Hanseong, Anpyeong picked one of the cavalrymen escorting him and sent him to Gyeongbok Palace [main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty].

-The servant accompanying me has contracted malaria. There is a risk of infection, so I will enter the palace after checking the situation for a few days.

Anpyeong, having sent the above message through the cavalryman, turned his horse towards his residence.

“You’ve worked hard to come all the way here, so I’ll treat you to a meal. Let’s go to my house together.”

“Yes? If you say so….”

The commander of the cavalry unit nodded with a brightened face.

Due to the royal order to go to the capital as quickly as possible, they had been camping out and eating dried rations.

However, it was a treat from a Grand Prince. Even if it wasn’t a feast, they would be treated to a pretty decent meal.

As Anpyeong and the cavalry unit were heading to Anpyeong’s residence, the dispatch horse sent to Gyeongbok Palace returned.

“This is a command directly issued by His Majesty!”

Anpyeong, receiving the sealed letter that the cavalryman politely handed over, tore open the seal and took out the letter inside.

After reading the contents of the letter, Anpyeong sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. I have no choice but to go to Gyeongbok Palace.”

The contents of the letter could be briefly summarized as follows:

-Stop talking nonsense and come here right now!

“Tch. It doesn’t work….”

Clicking his tongue and grumbling, Anpyeong ordered his servant.

“You lead them back and treat them to a meal.”

“What about you, sir?”

“I have to enter the palace.”

“Yes.”

Anpyeong, having given the order to his servant, gave a light bow to the cavalry commander and said goodbye.

“Follow the servant and have a meal first. Thank you for your hard work.”

“No, thank you.”

* * *

“You rascal!”

As soon as he saw Anpyeong, Sejong shouted.

“What are you doing wandering around when you’ve become independent and started a family!”

“I am sorry.”

“Instead of pondering how to help the country as a Grand Prince of Joseon, you’re wasting time and resources chasing after traveling troupes! What a scoundrel!”

“I am sorry!”

At Sejong’s scolding, Anpyeong had to bow his head and beg for forgiveness.

After scolding Anpyeong for a long time, Sejong came to a conclusion.

“If it were before you received your title, I would have used the whip, but since you have already received your title and become independent, it is a pity that I cannot do so! I order the Sangseon [official title]! Immediately issue an order to the Naesubyeoljwa (內需別坐) [official title] and the Gungbang (宮房) [royal workshop] to cut the wealth provided to Anpyeong’s Gungbang in half!”

“Father!”

Anpyeong called out to Sejong in a desperate voice as the funds for his hobby were about to disappear. However, Sejong was firm.

“All that wealth you’ve been spending is the sweat and blood of the people! To waste such precious things like that! I cannot forgive you! Go back and reflect and reflect!”

“Yes….”

At Sejong’s command, Anpyeong had to step back with a tearful face.

A few months later, Geomgye [royal inspector] reported new news about Anpyeong. Sejong grabbed the back of his neck after receiving the report.

“Oh my! This son of a…!”

According to the report submitted by Geomgye, Anpyeong was still wandering around looking for traveling troupes. Since the wealth provided had decreased, it was natural that his household finances had become tight. In the end, Anpyeong’s wife, Lady Jeong of Yeongil, had spoken to her family and was securing food and wealth to maintain the household.

“This rascal! Drag him here right now!”

Hyang, who had heard the rumors while working in Area 51 [metaphor for a secret or important location], shook his head.

“This is the real deal….”

Shaking his head, Hyang had to get up from his seat.

“I’ll have to step in for the first time in a while. Still, looking at the history before regression, he’ll be a reliable shield for my son, so I have to nurture him….”

“I will solve Anpyeong’s problem once and for all.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong was overjoyed.

“That’s right! The Crown Prince was here! The Crown Prince solved it back then, so I’ll trust you this time too!”

“I will do my best.”

* * *

Having obtained permission from Sejong, Hyang immediately intercepted Anpyeong as soon as he was dragged into the Donggung Palace [residence of the Crown Prince].

“Serves you right~.”

At Hyang’s short but powerful words, Anpyeong immediately lowered his head.

“Your Highness….”

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

“I am sorry.”

“What are you sorry to me for? You should be sorry to your wife. Thanks to you ruining the household, she had to get help from her family. What a disgrace for a Grand Prince of Joseon, huh?”

At Hyang’s rebuke, Anpyeong’s head fell further to the floor.

“Tsk!”

Hyang, clicking his tongue at Anpyeong’s appearance, continued.

“I know very well that you have liked the performances of the traveling troupes since you were young. But what remains after watching those performances?”

“Yes? What remains, what do you mean?”

“What remains besides what remains in your memory?”

“Well….”

Anpyeong, who was about to answer, was at a loss for words. While the traveling troupe was putting on a show, and he was laughing and enjoying it, all his worries disappeared. However, after the performance was over, he was filled with emptiness. Of course, his head was full of all the talents and sounds that the traveling troupes had shown, but that was it.

“You know very well that there are rumors circulating about your behavior, right?”

“Yes, that I will shave my head and enter the mountains….”

“You know it.”

At Hyang’s rebuke, Anpyeong could only lower his head.

* * *

Until the early Joseon period, the traveling troupes had a strong Buddhist color.

The word ‘Sadang (社堂)’ itself, in the traveling troupe’s name, meant a shamanistic ritual performed by shamans for the country since the Goryeo Dynasty [Korean kingdom, 918-1392]. Such Sadang came to be associated with Buddhism after the Goryeo Dynasty.

Therefore, in the traveling troupe’s performance, the head or leader would chant Buddhist scriptures and perform a Suryukjae [Buddhist ceremony]. However, over time, talents and sounds were added to this, and the character of the performance changed to a wandering drama.

Therefore, there was a situation where rumors were circulating not only among the general public but also among the ministers that Anpyeong, who was still deeply immersed in the performances of the traveling troupes with strong Buddhist colors, might convert to Buddhism.

The ministers’ concerns were also based on the example of Grand Prince Hyoryeong, the brother of King Sejong.

Although Grand Prince Hyoryeong had not completely entered the Buddhist priesthood, the fact that someone deeply immersed in Buddhism came from the royal family, the core leadership of the country, was a serious matter in the eyes of the Confucian scholars.

* * *

“I have no intention of becoming a monk!”

At Anpyeong’s protest, Hyang nodded lightly and continued.

“I guess not. It’s not like I don’t know your personality. I’m not worried about that. So….”

Hyang, pausing for a moment, looked straight at Anpyeong. As Hyang paused, Anpyeong looked at his brother.

‘His Highness will give me an answer!’

Recalling his own experiences and what Hyang had done so far, Anpyeong looked at Hyang with expectant eyes.

Looking at Anpyeong, Hyang brought up the main point.

“Why don’t you take on the task of recording and organizing the plays and sounds of the traveling troupes?”

“Yes?”

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, Sadangpae entry.