Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 972

972. A Tree with Too Many Branches… (1)

As the armistice agreement and the basic law of unified Italy were established, the imperial citizens began packing their bags.

“It seems the three ambassadors will have to stay in Italy for the time being.”

At Hyang’s words, Shin Suk-ju, Seong Sam-mun, and Yu Eung-bu nodded. The unification of Italy was not the end of everything. The most prominent issue was the relationship with the Habsburgs. Venice, a key component of unified Italy, regarded the Habsburgs as mortal enemies. Everyone could foresee a clash with the Habsburgs once unified Italy had a chance to catch its breath.

It wasn’t just Italy.

Spain and France also viewed the Habsburgs with displeasure. Therefore, the ambassadors staying in Italy needed to possess considerable diplomatic, political, and military insight, which was why these three were to remain at their posts.

“People suitable for those positions will arrive soon, so please endure a little longer. The Emperor will remember you.”

At Hyang’s words, the three bowed their heads and replied.

“As subjects, we are merely doing what we ought to do. Nevertheless, we are deeply grateful for your consideration.”

“We are deeply grateful for your grace.”

“Your loyalty is truly commendable.”

While praising the three men’s responses, Hyang muttered inwardly,

‘Their expressions don’t quite match their words, do they?’

* * *

While finalizing the personnel policies for the officials who would work at the embassy, Hyang also reviewed the luggage and people to be taken back to the Empire.

“Is it finished?”

“Y-yes, it is!”

“Let’s see…”

Hyang began to examine the painting, which was set in an ornate gold-leafed frame. Beside it, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci waited anxiously for Hyang’s assessment. After scrutinizing the painting from various angles, Hyang smiled and looked at the two men.

“You’ve painted it properly this time? I’ll pay the fee.”

“Whew~.”

“Haa~.”

The two, who had unconsciously sighed in relief, startled and bowed to Hyang.

“Thank you!”

The reason these two were acting this way was that Hyang had already scolded them severely several times. When the two men, already famous in history before his intervention, came to him, Hyang hired them without hesitation.

“My portrait painted by masters who will leave their names in history? Of course, I must have it done!”

However, when Hyang saw the sketches the two had drawn, he frowned.

“Is that old man in the painting supposed to be me?”

“Yes, it is?”

“The face I see in the mirror doesn’t look like that! Where did I go, and why is there an old Italian man sitting there instead?”

“Ah…”

“And why is the attire I’m wearing like that? Am I a Roman general?”

“……..”

As Hyang’s criticisms continued, the two men’s heads drooped lower and lower. Both of them were figures who had created new styles of painting representing the Renaissance. However, they had limitations in their perception. Although they painted Hyang while looking directly at him, they superimposed him with the features they had become accustomed to over time, resulting in a painting of a European who resembled Hyang, rather than Hyang himself.

Furthermore, the Roman style, which was a popular trend among European nobles of the time, compounded the problem.

“…The Empire also paints portraits. The painter who paints those portraits must depict everything about the subject exactly as it is, without hiding anything. That’s what I’m asking of you. I want my portrait, not an idealized image!”

“We’ll repaint it immediately!”

At Hyang’s rebuke, the two replied in clumsy Imperial language and began working again. As he posed for the two men again, Hyang muttered to himself,

‘This problem doesn’t discriminate by time or place. Is it a matter of habit after all?’

In the 21st century, Hyang’s relative who had traveled to Paris, France, once showed him a portrait painted there. At the time, everyone who saw the portrait said the same thing.

“Who is this?”

Similarly, Da Vinci and Michelangelo were making similar mistakes now. No, it wasn’t just Michelangelo and Da Vinci who were making mistakes. Similar errors were commonly seen in the paintings of Imperial citizens drawn by the artists who had rushed to Florence with dreams of fortune. Conversely, the opposite phenomenon was seen in the paintings drawn by the court painters from the Imperial Painting Bureau.

“Did Duke Medici look like this? Why is there an Imperial citizen wearing Italian clothes here?”

“……”

“If we’re not careful, it could become a major diplomatic discourtesy. Redraw it.”

“Understood.”

Thus, a massive butterfly effect was born by Hyang. Regardless of East or West, ‘hyperrealism’ was born.

‘Even the scenery reflected in a dewdrop on a glass must be no different from reality.’

‘If a painting drawn by looking at the real thing is different from the real thing, how can it be called spirit consonance?’

The hyperrealistic style of painting, which began with Da Vinci and Michelangelo and the court painters from the Imperial Painting Bureau who came to Italy, quickly swept through the art world of Europe and the East. The problem was that the main customers, the nobles, especially the noblewomen, hated it very much. However, because hyperrealism was the trend, the nobles had to follow it.

It was unfortunate for the noblewomen, for whom retouching was essential, that this trend continued for a very long time. This was thanks to the fact that the upper classes of the Empire, especially Hyang, took hyperrealism for granted.

“Let’s avoid photoshopping even in this era…….”

As an aside, the paintings and sculptures created in this way became important data for historians. By examining the works, it was possible to know to some extent not only the social conditions of the time but also the nutritional status of the people.

In addition, the pose Hyang took when painting portraits—sitting with his legs crossed, his hands clasped on his knees, and looking straight ahead with a confident expression—became the basic pose for portraits of successive Imperial emperors. No, it became the basic pose for portraits of monarchs throughout the East and West, not just the emperors of the Empire.

* * *

When the ship carrying Hyang, who had finished his work in Italy, arrived at Jemulpo, the Empire was abuzz. After staying in the quarantine facility on Yeongjong Island according to legally prescribed procedures, Hyang disembarked at Jemulpo Port, where Hyeon, who had been waiting, welcomed him.

“How much have you suffered in that distant land? It is truly a blessing to see you in such good health.”

At Hyeon’s words, Hyang smiled and responded.

“How can I suffer when it is for the peace and prosperity of the Empire? Isn’t it what every Imperial citizen should do?”

At Hyang’s words, Hyeon ordered the historians and scribes behind him.

“The historians and scribes must record the words of the Supreme Emperor now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The two Joseon kings walked towards the waiting carriage, chatting amiably.

“What is the scenery of Italy like? How do the people of Italy live?”

“The scenery of Italy is…”

* * *

After returning to Seoul and recovering from his journey, the first thing Hyang did was to hold a memorial service for the Imperial soldiers who had died in the Italian War. The memorial service was held solemnly with the participation of Hyang and Hyeon, as well as all civil and military officials and the bereaved families. After the memorial service, Hyang and Hyeon visited the bereaved families and offered their condolences individually. When Hyang personally visited and offered his condolences, the bereaved families bowed their heads and replied.

“We will remember this honor forever, as the Emperor and the Supreme Emperor remember us in this way.”

“We will protect the Empire for generations to come!”

And this event was reported throughout the Empire through the Court Report.

“They are indeed extraordinary people!”

The people who learned about the story through the Court Report shared their stories with proud expressions.

* * *

With the memorial service as the end, the Empire returned to its daily life.

“Daily life for the Emperor means an endless stream of documents. Whew~.”

Hyeon, who let out a long sigh, looked at the piles of memorials.

“Whew~.”

Hyeon, who sighed once more, unfolded a piece of paper placed on one side. The paper contained a list of memorials compiled by the Royal Secretariat. Hyeon put his hand on his forehead as he examined the list, which included the number of memorials that were submitted without any value and the types and numbers of memorials.

“As expected, a lot has come up again today. Whew~.”

Hyeon sighed again, looked in the direction of Sugang Palace, and his face brightened.

“At least the Supreme Emperor has returned, so we can solve it.”

Hyeon got up from his seat and ordered the eunuch.

“I will go to Sugang Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Hyang, who had been spending time looking at various blueprints, gave up the seat of honor when Hyeon came to visit and opened his mouth.

“No, what brings the Emperor, who is busy with state affairs, all the way here?”

“I have a problem that I want to ask the Supreme Emperor for an answer to. I couldn’t ask you because you were in a distant land, but now that you’ve returned, I’ve come to Sugang Palace.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Crown Prince’s marriage.”

At Hyeon’s answer, Hyang expressed his doubts.

“If it’s a marriage issue… you could have discussed it with the Queen Mother?”

At Hyang’s remark, Hyeon immediately replied.

“Aren’t you the one who was involved in the law regarding the Crown Prince’s marriage? In addition, you are the most senior member of the Imperial Family, so of course, I have to ask the Supreme Emperor.”

“That’s right. So what’s the problem?”

Even as he asked the question, Hyang had some expectations.

‘It must be a complaint that it’s hard to find a suitable marriage partner.’

* * *

Sejong created the extra-legal act, but of course, Hyang’s influence was strong. The Crown Prince’s marriage was one of them.

-Those who belong to the Crown Princess’s family, within 4촌 [촌 is a Korean unit of kinship degree] on the paternal side and 3촌 on the maternal side, are prohibited from submitting Crown Princess candidates for the next 100 years.

The reason Hyang included this clause was not only to prevent one family from monopolizing the Queen Consort position but also to exclude consanguineous marriage [marriage between close relatives].

“It wasn’t as bad as Goryeo [Korean dynasty from 918 to 1392], but the Joseon [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897] royal family also had quite a few consanguineous marriages. There is also a theory that the accumulated effects of consanguineous marriage were behind the short lives of the Joseon Dynasty kings in the late Joseon period and the succession to the throne by collateral lines due to the lack of heirs. We can’t have the ‘Habsburg jaw’ appearing in the Imperial Family.”

It was a clause that Hyang put in place to prevent problems from occurring in the Imperial Family due to genetic diseases caused by consanguineous marriage.

* * *

However, the problem Hyeon mentioned was beyond Hyang’s expectations.

“It’s not that, but because of the issue of determining this Crown Princess, memorials are pouring in from Bukji and Daeseol Island.”

“Bukji and Daeseol Island?”

“Yes. They are submitting memorials saying that they are fully qualified to submit Crown Princess candidates.”

“Huh…”

At Hyeon’s words, Hyang unknowingly made a strange sound.

According to Hyeon’s explanation, the common content of the memorials pouring in from Bukji and Daeseol Island was roughly as follows.

-It has already been decades since Bukji and Daeseol Island became territories of the Empire. In particular, Daeseol Island became a territory of the Empire long before Bukji.

-When they first became territories of the Empire, they did not know the ways of people, but now they have become Imperial citizens who know the ways of people and the national policy of the Empire well.

-In addition, there are more than a few who work as Imperial officials and soldiers with heavy responsibilities.

-Given the current situation, why does the Crown Princess only come from the mainland?

-Bukji and Daeseol Island are also territories of the Empire, and those who live there are also citizens of the Empire, so they are fully qualified to submit Crown Princess candidates!

After listening to Hyeon’s explanation, Hyang once again made a strange sound.

“Huh…”