Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 460

460. Changing People Pt. 2 (5)

‘The Crown Prince and the artisans are making something again!’

Rumors from District 51 piqued the interest of busybodies, and court officials began to sweat.

“What are they up to this time!”

“Please don’t start anything during the budget review period!”

It was the lament of the lower-level officials who couldn’t openly say who they were talking about. The higher-ups tried to soothe them, responding to the lower officials’ outcry.

“Still, if it turns out well, it will greatly help the finances, so isn’t it a good thing?”

When the superiors intervened, the lower officials replied with tearful faces.

“But, once His Majesty approves, we have to re-examine and rewrite everything from the beginning!”

“The higher-ups don’t understand! They just easily say, ‘Hey! Reduce the numbers a bit!’ but every time they do, we suffer!”

At the complaints of his subordinates, the senior official sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. Just be patient. Won’t this pass too?”

“It never passes, though? And does the wave only crash once?”

“…”

Eventually, the rumor spread and reached Sejong’s ears.

Sejong, upon hearing the rumor, immediately summoned Hyang.

“I heard you are starting a new project.”

“Yes. I have been thinking about something, so I am working on it with the artisans.”

“You’ve started more than one or two projects, and you’re starting another one? Is it really necessary?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“Of course.”

At Hyang’s concise answer, the eyes of Sejong and his ministers twinkled.

Based on past experience, the Crown Prince had a habit when explaining his new projects.

When explaining projects with a low chance of success or requiring a large budget, he would talk a lot.

However, if the project had a high chance of success and would bring enormous profits, the explanation became short and concise.

In such cases, even if Sejong or the ministers pointed out financial issues, Hyang’s answer was always the same.

“It will bring enormous profits. That level of budget is necessary.”

That was it. There were no further details.

However, Sejong and the ministers had to open their wallets because the profits that came in later, as Hyang had assured, were enormous.

Because there was such a precedent, the eyes of Sejong and the ministers twinkled. And in this situation, their wallets were half-opened.

“Really? Then what are you making this time?”

“I am making something to replace the women’s Gache [a large, elaborate wig worn by women in Joseon-era Korea].”

Disappointment spread across the faces of Sejong and the ministers at Hyang’s answer.

“Didn’t we already say we should get rid of Gache, only to be told it was impossible?”

“Yes. And I also heard the advice that harmony in the household is paramount.”

“So you’re challenging it again?”

“Yes!”

“Is it really necessary?”

“It is absolutely necessary for the health and beauty of the women of Joseon.”

Curiosity began to reappear on Sejong’s face at Hyang’s answer.

“I already know that women are suffering from the weight of the Gache, so I understand the health aspect. But what is the reason for eliminating Gache for the sake of beauty?”

“That is….”

Just as Hyang was about to answer, he sensed something was wrong and looked around.

‘Why is it so quiet?’

Hyang, looking around at the deathly silence of Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace], wore an absurd expression.

‘No! Why are these noblemen, who will be smelling incense behind a screen any day now, so focused? And those eunuchs over there! Why are the eunuchs so interested?’

“Crown Prince?”

“Yes? Yes!”

Hyang, who had lost his train of thought due to the unexpected situation, quickly regained his senses at Sejong’s urging and continued.

“It has always been said that a beauty must have nine colors. And among these nine colors, there are three lengths: long hair, long hands, and a long neck. Gache is used to make the hair appear long, but it is ruining the requirement for a long neck.”

“Ruining the length of the neck?”

“Yes. The weight of the Gache causes the neck to become hunched, and the shoulders also shrink, making the flesh around the neck look unsightly. In simple terms, the harmony is broken.”

“Hmm….”

“Indeed….”

Sejong, as well as the ministers, nodded at Hyang’s explanation. In particular, the elderly ministers had faces of strong agreement. The appearance of the court ladies, who were as old as they were, was similar to what Hyang had said.

Seeing the reactions of Sejong and the ministers, Hyang raised his voice even more.

“Therefore, if we make and use accessories that can replace Gache, we can achieve harmony in the three lengths and gain even more beauty.”

“Hmm….”

Sejong made a humming sound and fell into deep thought at Hyang’s explanation, and the ministers whispered in small voices.

“It sounds plausible….”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“The harmony of the nine colors is important….”

While the ministers were whispering, Sejong opened his mouth.

“If you make such accessories, will the royal workshop monopolize them?”

“Considering the example of Gache, wouldn’t that be impossible? It will only serve as a cornerstone.”

“A cornerstone….”

Sejong, pondering Hyang’s words, came to a conclusion.

“You persuade the Queen Consort.”

“…Yes.”

Hyang, answering reluctantly, grumbled inwardly.

‘Wow! Father, your evasive maneuvers are amazing!’

Sejong, well aware of the obsession of women pursuing beauty, had very naturally avoided the danger.

And the historian who recorded all of this wrote as follows.

-…Thus, the King approved the Crown Prince’s plan.

The historian says: Women suffer from Gache but insist on it because of their obsession with beauty. This cannot be blamed on women alone.

Gache was expensive, but how much more expensive will the new accessories be? I’m worried if I should start a side business by setting up a real gyejakjip [wig-making shop].

* * *

And about two months later, Hyang headed to the Queen Consort’s palace with the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje.

“Welcome.”

Queen Soheon, who greeted Hyang with a welcoming face, looked at Hyang with a curious expression.

“I heard the rumors. The fact that the Crown Prince is here now means that the results are out, right?”

“That is correct, Mother.”

“Are you confident? Even though I am your mother, I will not hesitate to criticize if I don’t like it.”

“You will like it.”

Despite Queen Soheon’s warning, Hyang answered confidently.

Queen Soheon’s eyes sparkled at Hyang’s confident appearance.

“Court Lady Jang, go and tell everyone to come.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After a while, even Sejong’s concubines gathered in Queen Soheon’s room.

“You all come this way too. To properly evaluate, you all have to do it together.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Queen Soheon’s command, the Crown Princess, Yangwon, and Yangje also moved to where Queen Soheon and the concubines were.

“Now, let’s see! Crown Prince. Take it out.”

“Yes, Mother.”

At Queen Soheon’s command, Hyang looked back at the eunuchs who had followed.

“Bring them forward.”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuchs came forward with the bundles they were carrying.

The eunuchs carefully placed the bundles on the floor, untied the knots, and placed the black wooden boxes on the floor.

“Hoo?”

“Oh my!”

“Oh my, how pretty!”

Queen Soheon looked at the boxes with sparkling eyes and exclaimed.

It wasn’t just Queen Soheon. Sejong’s concubines, who saw the boxes, also exclaimed without realizing it.

The wooden boxes, carefully lacquered and finished with copper decorations on the corners, looked extraordinary at a glance.

Seeing the reactions of Queen Soheon and the concubines, Hyang cheered inwardly.

‘That’s right! There’s a reason why luxury bags are packaged in incredibly high-end boxes! The packaging accounts for half of it!’

-The box value accounts for half of the expensive price of luxury bags.

Hyang nodded slightly, recalling a story that circulated in the 21st century.

Queen Soheon, who had been momentarily distracted by the boxes, soon regained her senses and looked at Hyang.

“There is a saying that goes, ‘The taste of the sauce is more important than the earthenware pot, right?’”

“Yes. I am confident that the taste of the sauce will also be good.”

Hyang, answering confidently, unlocked the latch of the top box. Hyang opened the box and tilted it to show the contents to Queen Soheon.

Queen Soheon, seeing the contents of the box, clapped her hands without realizing it and exclaimed.

“Oh my! How pretty!”

In the box, the Cheopji [ornamental hairpin] and Cheopjimori [a type of coronet], made with great care by the artisans, were neatly arranged.

Queen Soheon, staring at the Cheopji and Cheopjimori as if possessed, called the court lady who had a similar expression.

“Court Lady Jang, we should try it on.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Girls!”

With the help of the court ladies, Queen Soheon took off the Gache from her head and re-tied the Cheopjimori with her hair.

“Bring the full-length mirror.”

“Yes.”

Queen Soheon, standing in front of the full-length mirror that the court lady had brought and set up, examined her hairstyle and wore a slightly disappointed expression.

“It’s pretty, but it seems a little lacking.”

“We have this too.”

At Queen Soheon’s words, Hyang opened another box and showed the inside. Inside the box was a set of ornate Jokduri [a type of Korean traditional crown worn by women] and silver pins to connect and secure the Jokduri and Cheopji.

“Court Lady Jang!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Queen Soheon, wearing the Cheopji and Jokduri set, turned her body back and forth in front of the full-length mirror and looked back at Hyang.

“Crown Prince. It is truly beautiful, beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“Above all, it’s so nice because my head is light. Thank you, Crown Prince.”

“Do you like it?”

“I like it very much. I will have to use this instead of Gache from now on. I really mean it.”

At Queen Soheon’s words, Hyang bowed his head with a bright face.

“Thank you so much!”

To please the No. 1 woman in the Gyeongbok Palace meant that Cheopji and Jokduri would become the trend from now on.

However, Hyang subtly looked at the expressions of the other women. From Sejong’s concubines to the Crown Princess, Yangwon, Yangje, and even the court ladies, the women’s faces were full of envy and greed.

Seeing that, Hyang immediately turned the stacked boxes around.

“Please accept these.”

“Oh my! Thank you!”

The women accepted the boxes with delight and examined the contents. The women, gathered together to examine the contents of the boxes, soon discovered one characteristic.

“Are the animals on the Cheopji matched to the rank of the inner court?”

At Queen Soheon’s question, Hyang immediately nodded his head.

“Yes, they are.”

Queen Soheon nodded at Hyang’s answer.

“To think so meticulously, I like it even more.”

The accessories that Hyang made also included decorative hairpins that were inserted on the left and right sides of the tied hair to add style.

The new hair accessories that Hyang made were welcomed by the women. Hyang, who came out after hearing all sorts of compliments from Queen Soheon, whistled softly and muttered.

“Whew~. It’s a success now!”

Hyang’s boast was not an exaggeration. In less than two months, the women of the noble families living in Hanseong [old name for Seoul] began to use Cheopji and Jokduri instead of Gache. And in less than half a year, this trend spread throughout Joseon [old name for Korea].

To capitalize on this trend and make money, Gache artisans and goldsmiths jumped into the manufacture of Cheopji and Jokduri.

Although the animals to be placed on the Cheopji were determined according to the status of the women wearing them, there were no restrictions on the materials, so ornate Cheopji using gold, silver, and jewels were made. In addition, there were no restrictions on the decorative pins placed on the left and right, so they showed off their splendor.

In the end, to get Cheopji, Jokduri, and hair accessories to match the nine colors, one had to pay about the same amount of money as a decent Gache.

Thanks to this, there were still many middle-class people who used Gache, and the lower class had no choice but to continue using Dullemeori [a simple coronet] and Comeori [another type of head ornament].