Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 753

Distributed by Ajit Novel (formerly Ajitun Novel).

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753. Middle Schooler Emperor (6)

Having hurriedly prepared, Geum-sun’s parents greeted the man sent by Duke Anpyeong.

The man, after settling down in the main hall and exchanging initial greetings, immediately got down to business.

“Duke Anpyeong wishes to see you both.”

“Why would the Duke want to see us?”

To Geum-sun’s parents’ bewildered reaction, the man added,

“It concerns your daughter’s marriage.”

“Are you referring to our daughter, Geum-sun?”

“Yes, I am.”

The man’s explanation was quite terse. Anxious, Geum-sun’s mother moved closer.

“Please explain in more detail.”

“This matter is not for public discussion, so I suggest you hear it directly from the Duke. However, I can assure you that it is absolutely not bad news for your family or your daughter.”

With that, the man fell silent.

“Ugh…”

At this, Geum-sun’s father, who had been groaning, made a decision.

“Then, would it be alright to visit tomorrow?”

“What time tomorrow will you come?”

“I will go at noon.”

“His Excellency is a very busy man, and this matter is also important, so you must keep the time strictly.”

“We will definitely arrive by noon.”

“Then, I will inform His Excellency accordingly.”

Having completed his business, the man bowed lightly and left Geum-sun’s house.

Seeing the man off to the gate, Geum-sun’s parents looked at each other with faces still full of confusion.

“What kind of goblin trick is this…?”

“Still, he said it’s not bad for our Geum-sun, so let’s believe that.”

* * *

The next day, the couple, who had spent the night sleepless with worry, immediately dressed in their finest clothes and visited Duke Anpyeong’s residence.

Looking at the magnificent walls of the mansion, built on the most expensive land in the Bukchon area [a traditional upscale neighborhood in Seoul], the couple felt intimidated and repeatedly checked their attire.

In the Seochon area [another district in Seoul, but less affluent than Bukchon], they were a family that could walk around with their heads held high, but as soon as they entered Bukchon, they became utterly subdued.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

In any case, they had to meet Duke Anpyeong, so Geum-sun’s father cleared his throat and grabbed the knocker on the gate.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Is anyone there!”

As he knocked on the knocker and called out, the gate opened and a servant appeared.

“How may I help you?”

“I am Yang from Seochon. We have an appointment to see the Duke today.”

Geum-sun’s father did not speak informally. This was not only because he was intimidated by Duke Anpyeong’s power. The person who opened the gate was also a commoner.

* * *

After the near disappearance of government-owned slaves, it became a new trend for noble families and the wealthy to hire servants and maids. These were commoners, not slaves, so employers could not treat them carelessly.

The court was also subtly encouraging the hiring of such servants. It created new jobs for those who had no special skills or possessions and were struggling to make a living, and it created a decent source of tax revenue. In addition, those who earned money as servants and maids became a new element that invigorated the market.

The wealthy employers were not only losing out. They received various tax benefits equivalent to the wages paid to the servants.

* * *

Due to these social changes, Geum-sun’s father did not speak down to the man in front of him.

After hearing the purpose of their visit, the servant opened the gate and pointed inside with his arm.

“His Excellency is waiting. Please come in.”

“Thank you.”

The couple followed the servant to the detached house.

The man they had seen yesterday was standing at the entrance of the detached house, waiting for the couple. Seeing the man, the servant bowed politely and reported.

“Butler, these are the people from Seochon.”

“Good work. Go back to your duties.”

“Yes, sir.”

After sending the servant away, the butler announced to the detached house,

“Your Excellency, the Yang couple from Seochon have arrived.”

“Bring them in.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

* * *

As soon as the couple entered Duke Anpyeong’s detached house, they immediately bowed deeply to Duke Anpyeong and his wife.

“We are the Yang family from Seochon, here to see Your Excellency.”

After bowing deeply, the couple stood like statues, unsure of what to do. Seeing this, Duke Anpyeong pointed to the empty chairs and said,

“The ceiling isn’t going to collapse. Sit down there.”

“We, we are sorry.”

At Duke Anpyeong’s words, the couple hurriedly sat down in the empty chairs.

Shortly after, a maid brought in refreshments, following the butler, but the couple only looked at Duke Anpyeong.

After lightly moistening his throat with black bean tea, Duke Anpyeong began to speak in a relaxed voice.

“The reason I called you two here today is…”

* * *

About two hours later, the couple leaving Duke Anpyeong’s house had faces as if they had dreamed a dream.

Walking silently, Geum-sun’s father spoke to his mother.

“Honey, pinch me once.”

At those words, Geum-sun’s mother pinched her husband’s arm with all her might.

“Ouch! Woman! How can you pinch me so hard like I’m dying!”

“You told me to pinch you!”

Muttering quietly at his wife’s scolding, Geum-sun’s father sighed.

“Hoo~. Our Geum-sun becoming Duke Anpyeong’s adopted daughter… and the imperial family will personally hold the wedding… is this a dream or reality…?”

The wife also showed a reaction of disbelief.

“Tell me about it. And they’re even giving her the title of Lady of the Manor…”

What Duke Anpyeong had told the two was as follows:

-Ju Gyeon-sim, the new emperor of Ming [a Chinese dynasty], strongly desires to marry Geum-sun. He wants to make Geum-sun his primary wife.

-This has created a rather difficult diplomatic and political problem.

-The biggest problem is Geum-sun’s status. Even though she is a commoner, the difference in status is too great.

-If this is pursued as is, it will not only be a political burden for the new emperor, but it could also worsen the already strained relationship between the two countries.

-Therefore, Geum-sun will be adopted as Duke Anpyeong’s adopted daughter, and it will be recorded in the imperial genealogy [a record of a royal family’s lineage].

-In addition, Geum-sun will be given the title of Lady of the Manor.

-Geum-sun, who has received the title, will be educated in the imperial palace on imperial etiquette and everything else necessary.

-After that, the imperial family will directly proceed with the marriage to Ju Gyeon-sim.

“…If the two of you, Geum-sun’s parents, give your permission, we will proceed immediately. Of course, if that happens, your daughter Geum-sun will stay in my house, and her surname will also change. What will you do?”

In words, he was asking for the two’s permission, but in reality, it was an order, an imperial order.

However, the two could not easily answer.

Of course, rationally, they could see that this was the best way. However, emotionally, it was something they could not easily accept.

Seeing the couple’s obviously conflicted expressions, Anpyeong added,

“Of course, it is not easy to separate from your own flesh and blood. But if you think about your daughter, this is the best way.”

In the end, Geum-sun’s parents had no choice but to accept the imperial order.

Geum-sun’s parents stood up and bowed deeply to Duke Anpyeong and his wife.

“Thank you so much for taking care of our lacking daughter. Please take good care of our daughter.”

“You have thought well. And His Majesty has said that he will pay special attention to her, so don’t worry too much.”

Two days later, a palanquin [a covered litter carried by poles] sent from Duke Anpyeong’s house arrived at Geum-sun’s house.

Geum-sun, whose eyes were swollen from crying so much, said her final farewell to her parents and got into the palanquin.

* * *

Geum-sun, who was adopted as Duke Anpyeong’s adopted daughter, had to move busily as soon as she unpacked her luggage and calmed down.

The beginning was paying respects to Duke Anpyeong and his wife, who had become her adoptive parents.

From the day after paying respects to Duke Anpyeong and his wife, Geum-sun visited Gyeongbok Palace and Sugang Palace to pay respects to King Wan and Queen Wan, and King Sejong and Queen Sejong.

Geum-sun, who had directly seen people so high up that she would not normally even be able to see properly, forced strength into her trembling legs and paid her respects.

And seeing such Geum-sun, King Wan and Queen Wan, and King Sejong and Queen Sejong, gave her words of blessing with pitiful expressions.

“It will be difficult, but try to endure it well.”

“Even if you go to Nanjing [the southern capital of China during the Ming Dynasty], do not forget that our Empire is behind you.”

As such, as a member of the imperial family, the process of visiting the highest elders of the imperial family ended, and the process of learning the imperial etiquette and basic virtues that a woman of the imperial family should have began in earnest.

To learn imperial etiquette and what was necessary, Geum-sun had to go to Gyeongbok Palace every day.

The first person to greet Geum-sun was a court lady who looked very strict.

“I am Park Hyang-geum, the waiting court lady who will oversee the training of the Lady of the Manor.”

* * *

As the country changed to an empire, changes also occurred in the system of court ladies and eunuchs.

First of all, ‘Yeonggwolcheong’ was created as a department to manage court ladies and eunuchs. This Yeonggwolcheong was to manage all court ladies and eunuchs.

And there were also changes in the status and conduct of court ladies.

Until just before the country changed to an empire, court ladies had to observe ‘geumhon (prohibition of marriage).’

This was because of the concept that ‘all court ladies are the women of the king.’ Of course, there were exceptional cases where they got married due to accidents. In this case, the other man received a punishment of 100 strokes with a cane.

However, according to the story passed down, most of them were formally and symbolically beaten a few times and kicked out.

However, as they became affiliated with Yeonggwolcheong, court ladies, like eunuchs, were able to marry. In addition, instead of staying in the palace 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, they changed to commuting to and from work. And the salary was also set more realistically.

There were pros and cons to this change. The positive aspect was that they were freed from the bondage of having to live as a single person for the rest of their lives. Of course, there were also those who tried to get into the emperor’s eyes and aim for a life-changing opportunity. However, unfortunately, the emperors of the Empire were too busy to even blink, and they did not turn their eyes away from the already determined empress and concubines.

And as a negative aspect, things inside the imperial family became easier to be rumored outside, and those who approached for corruption also appeared. Thanks to this, the inspection department to prevent this became busy.

In addition, since court ladies who commuted to and from work also needed a place to live, the monthly rent in Seoul soared.

Hyang, who received the report at the time, could only shake his head.

“This damn real estate… I thought I had solved the problems of the officials and took a breather…”

Officials who lived in the provinces and took office and stayed in Seoul had no choice but to rent a house to live in. Thanks to this, even in the history before Hyang intervened, there were more than one or two records of officials complaining about the sadness of living in a rented room.

* * *

Park Hyang-geum, who introduced herself, explained the schedule for Geum-sun in the future.

“Do you have any questions?”

“Um… why do I have to learn gunnery and archery?”

“It is a tradition that women of the imperial family must learn archery and gunnery.”

“Yes?”