Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 90

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

90. Strangers (1)

Hyang sighed softly as he left Sejong Hall after being gently rebuked.

“Hoo~. Well, the project is out of my hands now… It’s a bit difficult, so Father and the ministers will have a hard time, but what can I do? It’s not something I can directly interfere with… No, it’s something that’s difficult even if I directly interfere, no, almost impossible. I don’t have the talent for this…”

“Your Highness, what did you say?”

“Just talking to myself. Just talking to myself.”

Hyang replied briefly to the eunuch who was following him and sighed again.

“Hoo~. Being the Crown Prince is good in many ways, but there’s no privacy, none at all…”

Muttering, Hyang suddenly turned to the eunuch as if he had remembered something.

“By the way, how many days are left until the fifteenth of this month?”

“Five days, Your Highness.”

“Five days, huh? I’m looking forward to it.”

Muttering to himself again, Hyang turned his gaze beyond the palace walls.

* * *

Hyang’s appearance itself was an unexpected event for the *gibang* [traditional Korean house of courtesans].

“Those who have not yet performed the coming-of-age ceremony are not allowed to enter here.”

Upon hearing that a young child wearing expensive, high-quality silk clothes had come to the *gibang*, the head *gisaeng* [female entertainer] herself came out to stop Hyang.

At the head *gisaeng’s* words, Hyang tapped his *gat* [traditional Korean hat] with his finger and replied.

“Does this *gat* look like a decoration to you?”

“Yes? Still…”

As the head *gisaeng* continued to hesitate, the commander of the escorting military officers stepped forward.

“He is fully qualified.”

“If you say so…”

The head *gisaeng*, overwhelmed by the momentum of the escorting military officers, stepped back, and Hyang and his party were able to enter the *gibang*.

“Take them to the largest room.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After letting Hyang’s party inside, the head *gisaeng* gave an order to another servant.

“Tell the guards to prepare in case something happens.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Just who is that young nobleman?”

Even after sending the *gisaengs* into the room where Hyang’s party had entered, the head *gisaeng* sat next to the door, watching the situation inside the room. Her eyes were focused solely on Hyang.

‘He’s definitely not an ordinary young nobleman from a noble family, full of youthful spirit!’

The head *gisaeng*, observing Hyang’s behavior, was coming to a firm conclusion.

There was a basis for the head *gisaeng’s* conclusion.

Hyang was too natural at commanding subordinates. It wasn’t just a demeanor that came from being accustomed to commanding servants, but a demeanor that was accustomed to commanding those who seemed important, like those accompanying him.

“I wonder if today will be a day of trouble…”

With a nervous face, the head *gisaeng* chewed on her fingernails.

Meanwhile, inside, a somewhat enjoyable time was continuing.

“The aroma of alcohol is wonderful!”

At Hyang’s exclamation after only smelling the drink, the *gisaeng* sitting next to him smiled slightly and replied.

“It’s not the aroma of alcohol, but the aroma of tea.”

“Tea aroma?”

“His Majesty has issued a prohibition on alcohol, so how could we recklessly brew alcohol? We are only brewing grain tea.”

“Huh? Hahahaha!”

Hyang laughed heartily at the *gisaeng’s* answer.

There hadn’t been a year without famine since Sejong ascended the throne. Because of this, Sejong had to issue a prohibition on alcohol every year. As water management projects progressed nationwide, the situation began to improve little by little, but the prohibition on alcohol was still being issued.

Thanks to this, the *gibangs* were using loopholes.

“We are not selling grain alcohol, but grain tea!”

It was ‘covering the eyes and ringing the bell’ [a Korean idiom for a futile attempt to hide something], but it was being glossed over because it was a *gibang*.

* * *

Hyang, who had been observing the appearances of the *gisaengs* after finding the *gibang*, changed the subject as the atmosphere became somewhat ripe.

“It’s my first time at a *gibang*, but I heard that there are people in *gibangs* who handle disturbances, right?”

At Hyang’s question, the *gisaeng* sitting next to him replied coquettishly.

“Yes, we have very strong guards.”

“Can I see them?”

“Yes?”

“I heard a rumor recently. I heard that there are people who can suppress even the officials of the Office of the Inspector General, who are famous for their strong spirit, with their eyes, so I wanted to see what kind of people they are.”

“Oh my~. That’s not our *gibang*, though?”

“Still, I want to see what kind of guards they are. Please call them.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

At Hyang’s words, the *gisaeng* went outside and told Hyang’s story. After a while, the *gisaeng* returned to Hyang with a slightly embarrassed face and said.

“The guard said, ‘They are not entertainers of a troupe.’”

“How rude!”

At the *gisaeng’s* answer, the escorting military officers who were present shouted and stood up from their seats.

“Sit down.”

“Your Excellency!”

“Now!”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

At Hyang’s restraint, the military officers sat down.

“Have a drink of grain tea. But don’t get drunk on the aroma.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

At Hyang’s command, the escorting military officers emptied the glasses in front of them. Hyang, watching the scene, turned to the *gisaeng* sitting next to him.

“Grain tea and entertainers… how interesting.”

“Yes, yes…”

At Hyang’s words, the *gisaeng* replied with a frozen face. The *gisaeng* was realizing that she was with very dangerous people.

‘Just what is this child!’

The *gisaeng* was curious about the identity of the young nobleman sitting next to her.

Soon after, the *gisaeng’s* face turned pale at the words that came out of Hyang’s mouth.

“Go and tell those guards: ‘You’re just dogs guarding the gate, eating the scraps that fall from the banquet table, yet you have so much to say.’”

“Your Excellency!”

The *gisaeng* hurriedly tried to stop him, but Hyang’s expression remained unchanged.

“Deliver my words exactly as I said them.”

* * *

After a while, the guard protecting the *gibang* appeared.

“Which son of a bi…”

The guard, who had appeared with a menacing aura as if he was about to start a riot while spewing out curses, stopped speaking and became very nervous.

It was because of the appearance of those in the room.

The men, except for Hyang sitting at the head of the table, were all exuding an unusual aura and glaring at him.

‘If I mess this up, will today next year be the day of my, Kang Sam-tae’s, memorial service?’

Sam-tae gripped the hilt of the *changpo sword* [a type of Korean sword] he was holding in his arms and opened his mouth.

“Who was looking for me?”

At Hyang’s question, Sam-tae replied.

“Are you looking for the leader?”

“Bring him here.”

Sam-tae was furious at Hyang’s extremely condescending words, but he gritted his teeth and replied at the momentum of those present.

“I will bring him.”

After a while, a man who looked extraordinary at a glance appeared, following Sam-tae.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Come inside.”

At Hyang’s words, the leader strode into the room.

“I have something to talk about with him. You guys go out.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Hyang’s words, the *gisaengs* went out in a flurry.

After the *gisaengs* left, Hyang gave the same order to the escorting military officers and eunuchs.

“You guys go out for a while too.”

“Your Excellency! Absolutely not!”

“It’s okay, go out.”

“I will leave two behind.”

When the commander of the escorting military officers strongly resisted, Hyang nodded.

“Do so.”

Thus, only Hyang, the commander leading the escorting military officers and one subordinate, and Sam-tae and the leader remained in the room.

“Why were you looking for me?”

At the leader’s question, Hyang smiled and asked a question.

“Judging by your appearance, you seem to be from a noble family, but are you illegitimate?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you satisfied with your current life?”

“As you said, what can a dog eating the scraps that fall from the banquet table hope for? I guess I’m satisfied as long as I don’t go hungry.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang made a slight nasal sound and looked at the leader sitting in front of him.

‘It’s a cliché, but it seems useful?’

“You’re going to make a hole in my face. Why are you staring so intently? Do you perhaps like men?”

“Unfortunately, I’m normal. Do guards like you have a *gye* [mutual aid association]?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“If you have a *gye*, tell the *gyeju* [head of the *gye*]. Even the same dog can have a different situation, so tell him to come find me at midnight on the fifteenth of this month.”

At Hyang’s words, the leader made a dumbfounded expression.

“Huh! Do you know who you are?”

“If you can’t even do that, you’ll have to spend your whole life guarding the gate of a *gibang*.”

After finishing his words, Hyang emptied the glass in front of him.

“Hoo! It’s a bit strong!”

Hyang, who put down the glass, got up from his seat and went outside.

“Settle the bill.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

While the eunuch was settling the bill, Hyang looked back at the head *gisaeng* and the leader.

“I enjoyed the show. And don’t take my words lightly.”

After finishing his words, Hyang strode away with the escorting military officers and eunuchs.

The leader, watching Hyang’s disappearing back, ordered Sam-tae.

“Chase him.”

“Yes, Leader.”

However, Sam-tae, who returned after a long time, had to bow his head.

“I lost him.”

“How?”

“The trail ended in Unjongga [Bell Street].”

“Unjongga?”

At Sam-tae’s words, the leader briefly recalled the topography of Hanseong [old name for Seoul].

‘He disappeared in Unjongga? Where to? That side only has government offices… Wait, government offices? If it’s a government office, it’s connected to the palace, and if it’s the palace…’

The leader immediately recalled one fact there.

‘If it’s the rumored Crown Prince, he’s about the same age as the boy I saw earlier!’

“When we were restoring the fire in Hanseong last time, the Crown Prince directed the work, right? Are there any kids who saw the Crown Prince’s face then?”

“Oh, Leader! Aren’t our kids all owls who sleep during the day and wander around at night?”

“Damn it!”

The leader, who spat out a curse, scratched his head and came to a conclusion.

“I have to tell the *gyeju*.”

Hyang’s identity was revealed three days after he started visiting the *gibangs*.

On the fourth day, Hyang asked the escorting military officer next to him as he moved his steps.

“Officer Kwon, you said the place we’re going to now is Hwawollu, right? Is it famous here?”

“Yes, it’s the best in Dadong.”

“You know it well?”

“In my younger days…”

“You’ll ruin your family like that.”

“Haha!”

Hyang, who arrived in front of the problematic *gibang* while continuing a conversation mixed with jokes and sincerity, burst into laughter.

“I’ve been caught. Well, my tail was long…”

In front of the wide-open gate of Hwawollu, the head *gisaeng* of Hwawollu and someone who appeared to be the leader were standing side by side.

“It is an honor to serve Your Excellency.”

The head *gisaeng*, who saw Hyang, moved as if she was about to fly and gave a deep bow, and the leader standing next to her also paid respects according to etiquette.

“Hoo?”

Hyang, receiving the courtesy of the leader of Hwawollu, made a surprised expression. The courtesy that the leader was giving now was exactly according to etiquette. This meant that the leader of Hwawollu was highly likely to be a member of an unusual family.

In any case, Hyang moved his steps to see what he had intended.

“Thank you for the welcome. I’m looking forward to it.”

* * *

On the promised fifteenth day. As midnight approached, Hyang gave orders to the eunuchs guarding Donggungjeon [Crown Prince’s residence].

“Leave the doors open and wait outside. A guest will come.”

“However…”

“It’s an order. Don’t ask, just follow it.”

At Hyang’s strong command, the eunuchs had no choice but to step back.

“The *Naegeumwi* [Royal Guard] Commander should also step back.”

“I will not comply.”

“*Naegeumwi* Commander!”

Hyang’s voice grew louder, but the *Naegeumwi* Commander did not back down.

“Even when my subordinates reported it, I did not report it to His Majesty at the request of the Crown Prince. This alone is an unforgivable crime, but I cannot leave the Crown Prince alone!”

“If the *Naegeumwi* Commander is standing here, will things go well with them?”

“Your Highness! Still, it cannot be done!”

“*Naegeumwi* Commander! It is for His Majesty and this Joseon! For this, my life is a cheap price to pay! It’s an order!”

After that, a long argument continued between Hyang and the *Naegeumwi* Commander, but Hyang’s stubbornness could not be broken.

In the end, the *Naegeumwi* Commander suggested a second-best option.

“Then I will leave only two people behind. I cannot concede more than that! If you refuse even this, I will report it to His Majesty immediately!”

Hyang sighed at the *Naegeumwi* Commander’s firm stance.

“I understand. Let’s do that.”

“Thank you!”

The *Naegeumwi* Commander, who paid respects to Hyang, left the room, leaving Officer Kwon and one *Naegeumwi* behind.

“That man is stubborn…”

While Hyang was grumbling, Officer Kwon and the other one were grumbling inwardly.

‘Isn’t Your Highness just as stubborn?’