Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 513

513. Distance and Proximity (6)

Zhu Qizhen’s reaction to Emperor Xuanzong’s decision was, predictably, one of opposition.

“Your Majesty! How could you make such a terrible decision! This is an unjust decision!”

Zhu Qizhen, who was in Nanjing, rushed to Beijing to argue against the decision with Emperor Xuanzong.

Despite Zhu Qizhen’s vehement protest, Emperor Xuanzong calmly explained his reasoning.

“The extent of his misconduct is too severe. He secretly organized a private faction among the eunuchs and accepted bribes.”

“Isn’t bribery a common occurrence?”

“If we excuse it because it’s common, what use is the law?”

“He was my teacher!”

“He was not a teacher, but a screen that blinded you.”

“I have known him longer than anyone! He is definitely not that kind of person!”

In response to Zhu Qizhen’s continued protest, Emperor Xuanzong gestured towards a pile of scrolls on a nearby desk.

“Read them.”

“Yes?”

“I said, read them!”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s command, Zhu Qizhen walked to the pile of scrolls and unfolded one.

As Zhu Qizhen read through the scroll, his face grew paler and paler. The scroll contained detailed accounts of Wang Zhen’s [a powerful eunuch] wrongdoings.

Zhu Qizhen hurriedly unfolded another scroll. However, the contents were similar, detailing further transgressions.

Eventually, after unfolding and examining the contents of five scrolls, Zhu Qizhen scattered the remaining scrolls and shouted.

“All of this is slander! It’s a plot!”

Zhu Qizhen desperately insisted it was slander. This wasn’t solely out of affection for Wang Zhen, but also because it placed a political burden on Zhu Qizhen himself.

The rumor that his father, Emperor Xuanzong, did not favor him was widely believed. Emperor Xuanzong could use this situation as a pretext to remove him from his position as crown prince.

It was against this backdrop that Zhu Qizhen so vehemently insisted it was slander.

However, Emperor Xuanzong scoffed at Zhu Qizhen’s claims.

“Hmph! Slander? A plot? Do you not know who I am and how I have dealt with those who engage in such things?”

* * *

There were also those who saw the periodic great purges during Emperor Xuanzong’s reign as an opportunity.

“Now is our chance!”

Some people falsely accused their political rivals, seeing it as a chance to eliminate them. However, their false accusations were quickly exposed because they couldn’t withstand Emperor Xuanzong’s rigorous cross-examination. Those who made such false accusations faced the extermination of their entire lineage, a punishment extending to ten generations.

These great purges had both positive and negative consequences.

The positive consequence was that the integrity of Ming officials was largely maintained for a considerable period. The negative consequence was that over 60% of the Ming Dynasty’s intellectuals and commercial class were eliminated, further solidifying the power of the privileged class.

* * *

Zhu Qizhen had no choice but to fall silent at Emperor Xuanzong’s question.

‘It’s too dangerous to argue any further here!’

In the end, all Zhu Qizhen could do was plead with Emperor Xuanzong for leniency towards Wang Zhen.

“Although his crime is great, he was loyal to me. I implore Your Majesty to show leniency.”

“I will consider it.”

The result of that leniency was that only Wang Zhen and those who formed a faction with him were executed by beheading.

* * *

After executing Wang Zhen’s faction, Emperor Xuanzong muttered while reviewing the situation.

“It seems there will be a problem… Qizhen will be a problem.”

The person Emperor Xuanzong was concerned about was Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen.

“Trusting someone you once trusted can be an advantage, but it can also be a disadvantage for an emperor. Moreover, the person he trusts so much is a eunuch… The Ten Attendants [historically powerful group of eunuchs] could be revived. In addition, his personality is not so much bold as it is rash.”

Emperor Xuanzong shook his head, recalling the scene of Zhu Qizhen overturning the scrolls while he was watching.

“If this country were in an expansion period like the beginning of its founding, the Crown Prince’s personality could be an advantage. But now, someone who is good at maintaining the status quo, not expanding, must succeed me. Qizhen’s personality will only bring disaster. I have to replace him.”

Emperor Xuanzong, having decided to replace the Crown Prince, stroked his beard and muttered.

“However, if I replace him without a plan, there will definitely be turmoil. I must contemplate how to replace him with minimal disturbance and in a way that benefits this country.”

* * *

When Heo Hu told Hyang and the ministers about the discord between Emperor Xuanzong and the Crown Prince, their expressions became serious.

“We must hope that the Emperor will remain on the throne for a little longer.”

The ministers nodded in agreement with Hyang’s words.

“That is correct.”

“The current Emperor knows what is right and wrong, so he continues to maintain good relations with our Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom]. However, if the Crown Prince’s personality is as rumored, there is a high possibility that he will interfere with our Joseon.”

Hyang nodded at the ministers’ words.

“That’s right. Looking at the current situation, the current Emperor is a truly good emperor for our Joseon. Hmm… It would be good to send some good wild ginseng and tonic. Huh?”

As soon as the word ‘tonic’ came out, Hyang noticed the ministers’ sour expressions and expressed his confusion.

“Why are you looking like that? Ah! Are you worried that the people will suffer from the difficulty of obtaining wild ginseng or medicinal herbs? If that’s the case, we can select some good ones from the wild ginseng and medicinal herbs that have already been presented and send them. If you’re worried about taking them from what was presented to Abamama [term for King], I will send a letter to Abamama to get permission and then carry it out. Would that be okay?”

“Yes. Please do so.”

Hwang Hui came forward and agreed to Hyang’s suggestion, but his expression remained uneasy.

‘It’s definitely a word that came out with good intentions, but why is it so unsettling?’

The ministers couldn’t hide their discomfort until the end because of the meaning of ‘tonic,’ which had acquired a negative connotation during the Gyeongjang [political reform].

* * *

It wasn’t only officials who were being replaced as the Gyeongjang progressed.

“Your Excellency, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong has arrived.”

At the servant’s words, Grand Prince Pyeongwon, who was reclining, sat up and replied.

“Bring him in.”

After a moment, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong, holding a bundle of medicinal herbs in one hand, entered.

“You must be busy, what brings you here?”

“My brother is sick, so I have to come and see him. By the way, even dogs don’t catch summer colds, how did you catch one?”

“Cough! I’m not a dog, so I caught one. Cough!”

Grand Prince Pyeongwon, responding to Grand Prince Gwangpyeong’s joke with a joke, looked at the bundle of medicinal herbs in Grand Prince Gwangpyeong’s hand and asked.

“What is that bundle of medicinal herbs?”

“This? It’s a tonic that I brought for my brother, who has become so weak that he caught a summer cold!”

At Grand Prince Gwangpyeong’s words, Grand Prince Pyeongwon looked at Grand Prince Gwangpyeong with a strange expression.

Feeling Grand Prince Pyeongwon’s gaze, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong quickly continued.

“Ah, geez! I really brought it with good intentions!”

“Really?”

“Maybe?”

“Brother!”

“Hahaha!”

With that, the tension subsided with a burst of laughter. Wiping away the tears that had formed from laughing so hard, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong said to Grand Prince Pyeongwon in a friendly voice.

“Wasn’t our mother always worried about your and my health? So, pay attention to your health, and pay even more attention to it.”

Grand Prince Pyeongwon sighed at Grand Prince Gwangpyeong’s words.

“Hoo~. Shouldn’t my brother and I be writing one more report instead of worrying about our health?”

“That’s the problem. The bigger problem is that our mother said that would be better.”

“Damn monk.”

When Grand Prince Pyeongwon uttered profanity, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong warned him in a stern voice.

“Hey! Wasn’t he a great master whom our mother cherished?”

“I apologize.”

When Grand Prince Pyeongwon apologized, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong smiled slyly and replied.

“And no matter how you look at it, the problem is the interpretation of the dream.”

* * *

When Grand Prince Gwangpyeong was born and passed his first birthday, a great master whom Queen Soheon cherished visited the Junggung Palace [Queen’s residence].

The great master looked at the Grand Prince’s face and palm lines, checked his pulse, listened to his fortune, and performed divination, then sighed deeply and spoke.

“Heo~. This is truly a strange event. How can such a thing happen? This is truly a strange event. Namuamitabul [Buddhist chant].”

Looking at the great master, who was quietly chanting the Buddha’s name, Queen Soheon carefully asked.

“Why are you doing that?”

“I shouldn’t say it rashly….”

“I will not hold you responsible for anything I hear, so tell me what you see.”

At Queen Soheon’s promise, the great master carefully said.

“It is truly difficult to say to Mama, but the baby’s fortune says that he will hardly live past twenty. However, when I look at his face, it seems that he will overcome that crisis, and when I look at his palm lines, it seems that his life line is reconnected, so it can be said to be a truly strange event.”

“That means!”

Queen Soheon was greatly surprised at the great master’s words.

“Truly, truly, does this mean that this child’s life has been extended?”

“That is correct. Namuamitabul.”

“Thank you. I am truly grateful.”

“What have I done? However, where there is yin, there is yang, and good things come with bad things. He has escaped a short life, but he will be tired all his life.”

“Tired all his life?”

“He will have a job to work hard at.”

“Heo. But wouldn’t that be better than a short life?”

Queen Soheon was firmly determined to do something.

And Grand Prince Pyeongwon was born. As with Grand Prince Gwangpyeong, the great master who visited at Grand Prince Pyeongwon’s first birthday performed a fortune-telling and sighed deeply.

“Heo~. How can this… Namuamitabul….”

“Why are you doing that?”

“The same thing has happened to this baby. Amitabul… How can such a thing….”

The great master gave the same explanation as he did for Grand Prince Gwangpyeong.

After leaving the palace, the great master looked back at the palace several times and muttered.

“How can such a strange event be repeated so many times? What kind of strange event is this… Amitabul….”

And before that year passed, the great master passed away. Before his death, the great master left these words to his disciples.

“I am being punished for rashly revealing the secrets of heaven, so do not rashly speak.”

* * *

Was it a series of coincidences? Or was the great master’s divine power great?

Compared to the history before Hyang intervened, the fates of Princess Jeongso, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong, and Grand Prince Pyeongwon were completely changed.

Princess Jeongso died in February of the 6th year of King Sejong, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong in December of the 26th year of King Sejong, and Grand Prince Pyeongwon in January of the 27th year of King Sejong.

The cause of death for all three was smallpox.

And the deaths of the three caused great psychological damage to their parents, King Sejong and Queen Soheon. In particular, the deaths of Grand Prince Gwangpyeong and Grand Prince Pyeongwon within a month of each other caused fatal psychological damage to Queen Soheon, and it is said that this was one of the reasons why Queen Soheon died earlier than King Sejong, who was suffering from illness.

However, the fates of the three were greatly changed by Hyang’s intervention.

With the advent of a way to prevent smallpox through cowpox vaccination, recorded as the ‘Crown Prince’s Self-Harm Incident,’ the three were able to avoid premature death.

‘Life has been extended, but instead, you will be tired all your life.’

Mindful of these words, Queen Soheon did not forget to assign someone skilled in managing property whenever Princess Jeongso, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong, and Grand Prince Pyeongwon established their own residences.

“The only time a royal family member will be truly ‘tired’ is when they have no wealth! We must prevent them from being burdened by financial hardship!”

However, Queen Soheon’s expectations were greatly off the mark.

Princess Jeongso volunteered to become a doctor, and the two Grand Princes were compelled to work hard in the court, partly by choice and partly by obligation.