Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 807

807. The Fall of a Star (1)

While Yi Jing-ok was paving the ‘Path of Gunpowder’ towards Tenochtitlan, leaving an unforgettable shock and horror to the Mexica warriors even in death, Hyang was in Seoul.

It was to be with Sejong in his final moments.

Not long after Yi Jing-ok led the first division of the expeditionary force and set sail, Hyang received an urgent message from Seoul.

-The Supreme Emperor’s condition has worsened.

“Damn it! Summon Duke Jinpyeong immediately!”

* * *

Upon receiving the urgent message, Hyang immediately boarded the Iron Horse [a train] with the Empress Dowager, the concubines, and the Jinpyeong family.

To expedite Hyang’s party’s return, the Shinji Railway Administration altered all schedules, and the Chosi Administration halted the departure of the Empire’s first steam-powered sailing ship after its maiden voyage.

Boarding the ship, Hyang gave the captain a short but firm order.

“I will take responsibility! Even if the engine breaks, sail at full speed!”

In response to Hyang’s command, the captain replied with a determined expression.

“I will dedicate my life to fulfilling your command!”

The steam-powered sailing ship, filled with coal and charcoal to power the steam engine, fresh water, and food and drinking water for the people, sailed at full speed towards Wonsan.

Thanks to stopping at ports only when the coal and charcoal in the cargo hold ran out, the steam-powered sailing ship carrying Hyang was able to drop anchor in Wonsan in just 40 days.

* * *

Upon arriving in Wonsan, Hyang went directly to the Wonsan Station and found the stationmaster.

“Although it may cause inconvenience to the people, the matter is urgent, so please allocate an Iron Horse. I am sorry to ask this of you.”

The stationmaster bowed his head in a flustered manner at Hyang’s apology.

“Ah, no! It is my duty to do so!”

“It is not a matter of course. This is clearly a violation of the Railway Act. However, the matter is urgent, so I am asking for your understanding.”

“Ah, no! I will prepare it immediately!”

The stationmaster and staff hurriedly began preparing the train for Hyang to board.

Since there was no dedicated passenger car for imperial family members, the stationmaster and staff had no choice but to forcibly remove passengers from the passenger car.

“Why! I paid for this Iron Horse; why are you telling me to get off!”

Naturally, there was an outcry from the people, and the station staff had to explain the situation.

“His Majesty the Retired Emperor needs to go to Seoul urgently. So, please help us!”

“Ah, if that’s the case….”

“If the Emperor is in a hurry….”

At the words of the station staff, the protesting people closed their mouths and began to pack their belongings to get off the passenger car.

Hyang was the most respected emperor after Sejong. [Sejong was Hyang’s father and a highly revered former emperor.]

Sejong and Hyang were the ones who made it possible for them to live as they do now, so the people’s respect and affection were immense.

Of course, the worry of what might happen if they interfered with the Retired Emperor’s affairs also played a part.

Seeing the chaotic situation on the platform, Hyang got up from his seat and headed to the platform.

“Make way! His Majesty the Retired Emperor is passing! Clear the way! Make way!”

At the cry of the attendant, the people on the platform hurriedly stepped back and prostrated themselves.

Although it was not necessary to prostrate oneself due to the reforms through Gyeongjang [political reforms] and the Super Law [law that reduced the power of the monarchy], the habit passed down through successive dynasties was like an instinct.

“Oh… Tsk!”

Hyang, clicking his tongue slightly at the sight of the people prostrating themselves on the ground in an instant, opened his mouth towards the prostrate people.

“Everyone may rise.”

However, even though Hyang spoke directly, almost no one stood up.

Clicking his tongue slightly once more, Hyang continued.

“I sincerely apologize for violating the Empire’s solemn law and causing inconvenience to the people. However, I was in a hurry because the Supreme Emperor is said to be seriously ill, so I had to do this. I hope the people will forgive my actions with generous hearts.”

At the same time as he spoke, Hyang prostrated himself on the ground, bowing deeply to the people on the platform.

“Oh my!”

“Oh no! Such an outrageous thing!”

At Hyang’s deep bow, the people hurriedly got up and returned the bow.

Hyang, who had risen, continued to speak to the people.

“I will request a trial from the Court of Justice regarding this matter, so such a thing will not happen again in the future.”

Thus, after a commotion, Hyang and his party were able to head to Seoul by train.

As an aside, the people who received Hyang’s bow at Wonsan Station that day never failed to boast about it whenever they got drunk at gatherings.

“Is there anyone here who has received a bow from His Majesty the Retired Emperor? I have, I tell you!”

* * *

Thanks to the urgent message sent from Wonsan, the Iron Horse carrying Hyang and his party was able to head straight to Seoul.

The Railway Corporation, which manages the railways, allowed the Iron Horse carrying Hyang and his party to pass first.

Thanks to this, the trains traveling between Wonsan and Seoul had to stop at intermediate stations.

Seeing the Iron Horses stopped and waiting at each station, Hyang clicked his tongue again.

“Tsk! This is… If I don’t go to the Court of Justice, the Board of Audit and Inspection will go wild.”

Hyang, who kept clicking his tongue at the snowballing situation, continued with a slightly brighter expression.

“Still, it’s better than hearing bad news as soon as I arrive. Yes.”

* * *

Thanks to running at full speed, Hyang was able to arrive in Seoul that night.

Waiting for Hyang and his party at the Seoul Station platform were the Royal Guards dispatched by Wan [the current Emperor].

Under the escort of the Royal Guards, Hyang arrived at Gyeongbok Palace and entered Geunjeongjeon Hall to have a private meeting with Wan.

“I greet the Emperor. I am truly glad to see you in good health.”

“I am also grateful that Your Majesty is in good health.”

“Thank you. So, how is the Supreme Emperor?”

At Hyang’s question, Wan’s complexion darkened.

“He is not doing well. He had underlying illnesses, and he is quite old….”

“I see… Although it is late, I must go to Sugang Palace.”

“Let us go together.”

Hyang and his party headed to Sejong’s bedchamber in Sugang Palace with Wan.

* * *

“You may enter.”

Guided by the eunuch, Hyang and his party entered the bedchamber.

Sejong, with a gaunt face, smiled as he saw Hyang and his party bowing deeply and opened his mouth.

“It is truly a pleasure to see you after so long.”

“I, no, I am also very happy to see you, Father.”

As Hyang referred to himself as ‘I,’ Sejong said with a bright face.

It was a moment not as Supreme Emperor and Retired Emperor, but as father and son.

With a more relaxed face, Sejong reached out his hand and said.

“Sit down.”

Sejong, looking at each of Hyang’s party members as they sat down, turned to the Grand Empress Dowager sitting next to him.

“Those children have aged a lot too.”

At Sejong’s words, the Grand Empress Dowager also smiled slightly and replied.

“Those children have aged, so it cannot be helped.”

“That is true….”

After that, a friendly atmosphere continued, and Sejong, Hyang, and Jinpyeong continued their conversation.

“You must be very tired from the long journey. Let us stop here for today.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang and his party politely paid their respects and left Sejong’s bedchamber.

Hyang, who had left Sejong’s bedchamber, asked the eunuch who followed him out in a small voice.

“I heard it from the Emperor, but is it very serious?”

At Hyang’s question, the eunuch replied with a mournful face.

“The royal physicians say that he seems to be regaining his strength now, but it should be seen as a temporary recovery before death.”

“I see… Haa~.”

Hyang, sighing, said to the eunuch.

“Still, do your best to maintain his strength.”

“I will do my best.”

Hyang, giving orders to the eunuch and heading to his residence, Changdeok Palace, looked up at the sky and muttered to himself.

“Yes… What cannot be helped cannot be helped….”

Meanwhile, Sejong, who had sent Hyang and his party out, was talking with the Grand Empress Dowager.

“That child is truly amusing and truly regrettable when I think about him.”

“What is so amusing and regrettable?”

“When he was young, he lived drawing a line, but now he is doing the opposite, is he not? That is why it is amusing and regrettable.”

As Sejong said, Hyang had kept a considerable distance from Sejong when he was young.

This was because Hyang had memories of his previous life.

The memories he had with his parents in his previous life, combined with the fact that his father was a famous person named Sejong, caused him to keep his distance.

As time passed, Hyang’s sense of distance gradually faded. However, as Sejong ascended the throne and Hyang was appointed as the Crown Prince, the rate at which the sense of distance faded slowed down even more.

The positions of King and Crown Prince reduced the amount of time they could spend together.

What greatly reduced the distance between Sejong and Hyang was thanks to several incidents that threatened the royal authority.

As they went through thick and thin together and overcame crises, and as they researched Hunminjeongeum [Korean alphabet], Sejong and Hyang became very close.

As time passed, the affection between the two deepened, but the positions of Emperor and Retired Emperor, Retired Emperor and Supreme Emperor, took away almost all the time the two could spend together.

With a feeling full of regret for the time that had passed, the night in Seoul was deepening.

* * *

The next day, Hyang visited Sejong again.

“Please eat some more.”

“I have eaten enough.”

“Please eat some more vegetables.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong smiled mischievously and replied.

“I am not at an age where I need to worry about not being able to get it up, am I?”

“Still, you should think about the balance of your diet.”

“Goodness….”

Sejong, frowning at Hyang’s words, picked up vegetables with his chopsticks and grumbled.

“That brat is always picking a fight when I eat. Even a dog is not bothered when it is eating….”

“Dog….”

“It will bite if you bother it! I know that, you brat!”

* * *

After Sejong’s breakfast was over, Hyang was slowly preparing to leave.

“It seems you have eaten well, so I will be going now.”

“Wait, stay there for a moment.”

As Hyang sat back down with a puzzled expression, Sejong ordered the eunuchs and court ladies.

“Clear the table and bring those things.”

“Yes.”

As the court ladies cleared the table, the eunuchs soon brought in a pile of thick books and put them down.

“W-What is this?”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong smiled slyly and began to explain.

“I have been doing this and that since returning to my residence. But there are things that I have not yet finished, and there are things that I have only laid the groundwork for. So, I need you to do it.”

“……”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang looked at the piled-up books with a pale face.

Looking at the books with a pale face, Hyang turned to Sejong.

“When did you do all this?”

“All I have is time since returning to my residence. What else would I do if I did not play around?”

“……”

“It is all for the sake of the Emperor and the Empire. But now my strength is weakening, so I am very worried that I cannot finish it properly. But fortunately, the Retired Emperor has come, so I am relieved.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang looked at Sejong with strange eyes.

‘Could it be a feigned illness?’

“It is not a feigned illness.”

“Who said anything?”

“You brat! Your eyes are saying it!”

In the end, Hyang, who had taken over the work from Sejong, came out and looked at the sky, making an unavoidable expression.

“Still… I cannot die alone, can I?”

At that moment, all of Hyang’s brothers, including Jinpyeong and Anpyeong, shuddered simultaneously.

“What is it? Why am I suddenly getting goosebumps?”