Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 125

“Then bring someone….”

Even so, the people who remained were undergoing a systematization process to serve as teachers and doctors.

There were many people within Siyeongwon [a medical institution], and some fell ill, while others heard rumors and came seeking treatment.

“It seems like you’re working too hard; are you alright?”

“This is what I enjoy doing.”

And Heo Yeon-tae, who was worriedly watching Sung-ji, unexpectedly asked me when Sung-ji wasn’t looking.

“I am a little worried that my niece is too enthusiastic. Could Ongju [a term of respect for a princess or noblewoman] allow her to rest a little?”

“It’s not a difficult request. And don’t call me Ongju.”

“…Yes.”

His gaze towards me is still a bit strange, though.

Living here, I’ll probably see a lot of children. Could there really have been a child who resembled me?

Since I was in the royal palace, I might have seen many of my half-siblings that I never actually met.

‘Hmm. But I resemble my older sister, my birth mother, and not much like my father.’

On that thought, I asked directly.

“Do I resemble someone you know?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you so surprised? I’m saying this because Doctor Heo’s attitude is a bit strange whenever he looks at me.”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

“My uncle is still strange, isn’t he?”

Sung-ji arrived, and the conversation ended there, but I didn’t feel quite satisfied.

‘Hmm… Should I suggest eating something spicy for dinner tonight?’

I’m glad there’s chili powder in this era.

Thinking that, I pulled Sung-ji along.

“By the way, do you still go to Hyeminseo [a public medical clinic] often?”

“Of course. I’m watching the children who aspire to be doctors shivering in Hyeminseo.”

After all, Hyeminseo is tougher than here, and they get to see patients with all sorts of symptoms. Everyone goes through a panic state once they go to Hyeminseo.

“I think it would be good to have a major [specialization in medicine].”

“Then wouldn’t we need a lot more doctors?”

More doctors = greater financial burden.

This is also a profitable business, after all.

The salary system, personal protection, and other conditions aren’t bad, so many people are interested, but some doctors showed reluctance to be considered on par with female doctors.

On the other hand, there were cases like Sung-ji, where women who had doctors as fathers showed interest.

Well, if parents intended to raise their daughters as doctors, they would have had them take the exam rather than come here.

Still, the perception that this place is stable for women has spread quite a bit, so all sorts of people were gathering.

“I feel sorry for Sung-ji because the work keeps growing. I didn’t intend to make you work this much.”

“I like it. I can do things I never imagined thanks to you, Agassi [a respectful term for a young lady].”

“You look tired; why don’t you rest a bit? Come to think of it, I heard the flower shadow play started recently; have you seen it?”

“Ah… I haven’t been able to see it yet because I’ve been busy.”

It was a play I had planned, but while I was stuck in the palace and couldn’t come out, it was carried out by other people, so I only had to check it through letters.

Even when I came to Siyeongwon before, the weather was bad, so I couldn’t see it and went back.

Still, Sung-ji hasn’t seen it even though it’s right nearby….

“I heard the reviews are good. Some of the students have seen it, and the patients all know about it.”

“That’s a relief.”

‘Se-hwa said she participated in the adaptation a bit….’

If the original author was involved, wouldn’t the original fans’ dissatisfaction subside a bit?

Sung-ji said that, according to what she heard from around, it was quite popular, but she also heard that the core fans of the original weren’t happy with it.

Well, it seems that the public awareness has widened, and the book sales, which had been stagnant, have risen again, so it was a good thing.

Since the topic came up, I dragged Sung-ji out to go see it, and Doctor Heo Yeon-tae pushed Sung-ji’s back, saying that he would do the remaining work, so please escort Agassi.

For reference, the play is not far from Siyeongwon and the school. It’s happening in our playground.

Because it’s a place where people gather on their own.

The play sometimes has free performances in the front, but the back is always a paid performance.

During times when there are many people in the playground, they naturally watch the front part of the tasting performance for people waiting to ride the rides, and then stop at the important part.

And the back part is a paid payment… no, if you pay the fee, you can continue to watch it, so people who are curious about the back story either pay to watch the performance or buy the book.

Of course, there was also a separate time for full paid performances for audiences who wanted to watch leisurely from the beginning.

‘To encourage smooth impulse purchases, I set up a stall next to it and piled up and sold original books.’

The first edition limited edition signed book has now become an unobtainable item, but there is still a demand for the illustrated version, so we have three types of books available for sale: Chinese version, Korean translation version, and Korean translation illustrated version.

Of course, the illustrated version is the most expensive.

According to Mr. Jang, there have been requests for a Chinese illustrated version these days, but since Hangul [the Korean alphabet] is more popular than Chinese characters, it is difficult to expect much profit, so he is worried.

I don’t really recommend it either.

Still, I was feeling the reward of printing these days because more people were buying it because of the play.

Of course, some of the people who saw it cursed, saying that I was obsessed with money.

And after hearing that, I put up a sign next to it with the phrase that part of the profits would be used for the operation of Siyeongwon, and installed a small box to ask for donations for the children of Siyeongwon, and after that, it became quiet.

The books sold at the playground are sold by Siyeongwon people, so part of the profits goes to Siyeongwon. Even if the publishing house (!) is mine, the money I earn goes to Siyeongwon.

“Oh, Agassi, you’re here. The performance is currently underway, but it just started. Come this way.”

Originally, you would have to pay for a ticket and then enter, but we were officials, so everyone knew Sung-ji’s face, so it was a free pass.

So-i had an excited face, but Sung Gyeom-sabok and Cheon-ho had bewildered faces.

I was actually watching a play for the first time, and although I had heard reports, seeing the tent full of people, it seemed to be successful.

I whispered to Sung-ji.

“But for some reason, I see familiar faces among the actors.”

“Ah, some of the Siyeongwon children wanted to try it, so they’re only doing simple roles.”

Well, the main roles are played by professionals, so it doesn’t matter.

For reference, as mentioned once before, the main roles were actually wearing masks that covered their eyes.

Perhaps… the fans’ ‘My protagonist isn’t like this!’ might be a bit burdensome for the actors, and there was also the issue of personal protection, as mentioned before.

In addition, there was the advantage that the mask could also be sold as merchandise.

I deliberately put the flower pattern that was put on the limited edition book cover on the protagonists’ masks, and the fans seemed to like it.

At first, I didn’t even think about selling it, but some enthusiastic fans came with money and shouted, ‘How much! How much is it!’, so the idea came up to order and sell even a small amount, so I gave permission.

Since it can be sold at the place where books are sold, there are no major problems other than the production speed.

I heard that it was selling surprisingly well and that additional orders were being placed, and when I came in, I saw that it was already out of stock.

Well, I’m glad that I’m making a lot of money. Everyone must have money to buy it, right? It would be a little difficult to hear that I’m encouraging extravagance.

I watched the play with the eyes of an investor and original reader.

It would be a lie to say that there were no disappointing points from the perspective of the original fan, but it wasn’t bad.

When the play ended and people rushed out, I and my party also left the tent.

I hurried a little because I thought they would come to greet me if they knew I was here.

“Sung-ji, you read the original, right? How does it look?”

“It’s fun. The adaptation is also appropriate.”

“That’s a relief then.”

“It’s a pity that you’re only seeing it now when it’s something you came up with, Agassi.”

“It can’t be helped. I can’t postpone everything that’s been prepared because of me.”

Still, I’m glad it was made quite well.

I spent quite a bit of money to improve the quality of the play. I’ve already earned enough to recover my investment.

‘Well, the author herself touched it to some extent, so it’s worth it.’

Se-hwa suffered. She’s already busy with Hyeminseo, but she’s also in charge of script supervision, and I’ve even commissioned a new novel.

Sung-ji must have been thinking the same thing as me, so she brought up the new work by Se-hwa, no, Ji-cheon Seonsaeng [referring to Se-hwa] first.

“Speaking of which, about the novel you mentioned the other day, Agassi. It seems that some of the content has come out, so I hope you can read it once.”

“Oh, really?”

The original reproduction request with the Crown Prince as the main character, no, the new work request has already come out.

Is Se-hwa even sleeping?

“That… the day you were kidnapped, Agassi, Se-hwa met the Crown Prince in person and clearly defined the impression of the male protagonist, so the writing was quickly written, she said.”

“Oh….”

Ah, was that the look Se-hwa was giving the Crown Prince at that time?

‘Tsk.’

In fact, I was a little disappointed because I had slightly different expectations.

And anyway, it was a good thing if the novel was completed, so I decided to visit Se-hwa.

“Have you read it?”

“Yes, she said she’s still refining it, but it was fun.”

“Hoo.”

I’m glad it’s fun.

“I’m thinking of making that into a play if possible. What do you think?”

“Hmm. Even though we don’t know if it will be popular yet?”

“Originally, the next work of a hit writer should be pushed hard.”

“Is that so?”

It seemed a bit excessive to push a writer who only had one hit so far, but this new work had something I intended, so I needed to push it on purpose.

“Well, I think it would be good for promotional effects. I don’t read novels often, so I don’t know if my perspective is accurate….”

“Originally, it has to be fun even for people who aren’t enthusiastic readers to be popular with many people.”

Too maniacal writing is only seen by the people who see it, so it’s not popular.

“By the way, I don’t see any problematic parts, but it seemed like she wanted you to check it once, Agassi.”

“Hmm. I have to check that.”

I thought the censorship would be severe because it’s a monarchy, but this also varies slightly from king to king.

Currently, Joseon [the historical Korean kingdom] doesn’t crack down too harshly on most things.

In fact, satire plays aren’t there for nothing, and if you crack down on such things one by one, people will only whisper that you’re a tyrant.

From the king’s point of view, it was much more profitable to show a generous appearance that he didn’t care about the people playing, and to leave in the Veritable Records [historical annals] that the king was generous to the people and didn’t block the press.

Besides, unless it’s content that deliberately insults the royal family.

The main content is a romance, and the Crown Prince is handsome, capable, and will be like that.

‘According to the story I told, the Crown Prince, who realized the conspiracy of a minister trying to humiliate the royal family, doesn’t fall into the trap and protects the throne.’

Of course, the first chapter of the book will say that this story is set in a fictional Joseon and has nothing to do with real people or events, and if there are any similarities, it is purely coincidental.

In fact, the more people who have a lot to hide, the stricter they become with those around them. The more confident and relaxed people are, the more generous they become.

Currently, Joseon on this side has a stable inheritance of the eldest son, so the royal power is quite stable, and there are no particular moral flaws.

Well, the Joseon I knew was cursed with misfortune after misfortune after Grand Prince Suyang seized the throne of his nephew, Danjong, who was the eldest son, and eventually Sejo’s legitimate children died one after another, and it seemed a little smooth during his grandson Seongjong, but after that, a tyrant named Yeonsangun came out.

After that, Yeonsangun’s younger brother, Jungjong, ascended the throne, but his sons, Injong and Myeongjong, also died young, and eventually Suyangdaegun’s legitimate grandson was cut off.

‘Grand Prince Suyang also suffered from boils during his lifetime.’

At the time, he was in pain and his descendants were dying one after another, so it was said that he was cursed because he had committed many sins.

That’s why he created legends such as the cat told him that there was an assassin and saved him, or that the Bodhisattva of Munsu healed Sejo’s illness to try to create an image.

Of course, even if that’s the case, the fact that Grand Prince Suyang is a parricide who killed his nephew does not change.

In fact, I couldn’t help but wonder if I should create and spread such a legend.

However, unlike Grand Prince Suyang, who had no choice but to have many people who wanted to kill him, it would be even stranger if the Crown Prince was almost assassinated even though he had not committed any crimes.

So I decided to just go with this.

‘The content isn’t about the Crown Prince indulging in women and flirting with palace women.’

In the first place, I commissioned it after seeing Hwayoung, the previous work, so I wasn’t too worried.

Hwayoung also has a romance proportion in the story, but it was generally healthy.

“Then shall we go to Hyeminseo to meet Se-hwa as it is?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to go out and see it?”

It’s still bright, so it’ll be okay, right?