Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 139

“……”

Would it have been better if I hadn’t delivered the news at all?

Would it have been better to make her wait endlessly, even if it was difficult?

Song Bi’s words didn’t end there.

“Moreover, she lost even her closest friends, who had supported her, one after another. She was truly an unfortunate person.”

“Pardon?”

Sung Gyeom-sabok’s voice trembled at the unexpected words.

“Around the time of her close friends’ first death anniversary, the older sister received an unexpected favor from the King while taking a walk alone at night. It was something no one had anticipated. Fortunately or unfortunately, she became pregnant, and Princess Jaga was born.”

Siae had wanted to have a family.

For a court lady who was a friendless orphan with no family and cut off from relatives, receiving the King’s favor might have been the only way to have a family.

I remembered Siae’s rough hands when she was working in Saenggwabang [a royal kitchen].

I thought it might be fortunate because if she became a royal concubine, her hands would never become rough again.

Knowing that, I left again.

Because I didn’t want to become a flaw in vain.

But I came back alive from a place where I thought I might die.

However, the news of Siae’s death came just as I thought she was living well as a royal concubine while I was away.

Before I could even get angry, those involved in her death had already been revealed and punished.

With a sense of emptiness, I visited my hometown, told them I would return to the capital for the last time, and visited the child’s grave.

A sense of futility washed over me at the sight of the unexpected, decent tomb.

‘If I had known it would turn out like this……’

Who would have known that she would leave this world so early when she had finally had a family?

I heard that she lost the child in her womb, but young Princess Jaga was still alive.

I also heard rumors that she was weak.

Originally, when I first returned to the capital and was told to take a government post, I was going to refuse.

But after seeing the tomb and grieving to my heart’s content, my mind changed.

How could she close her eyes in peace, leaving her young daughter alone in that desolate palace?

It was presumptuous to have such feelings for Princess Jaga, but if she was Siae’s daughter, she was like my own family.

I wondered if I could catch a glimpse of Princess Jaga’s face, even by chance, when I went to the palace to see His Majesty.

Perhaps I could see Siae’s daughter from afar.

‘And in fact, I ran into her not in the palace, but outside Namdaemun Gate [the Great South Gate of Seoul].’

Buddha’s Birthday.

A cheeky little child I encountered on my way into the capital after having a drink with a colleague I hadn’t seen in a while.

I thought the face I saw briefly when we parted that day resembled Siae. I never thought I would meet her again in the palace.

‘Come to think of it, the day we formally introduced ourselves, my beard was pulled out.’

It had been beautified into a fond memory now that time had passed, but no matter how I thought about it, it wasn’t a very pleasant encounter.

But thanks to that, I was able to be by her side like this, instead of from afar.

“Princess Jaga was very happy when she was born.”

“That’s a relief. And… thank you.”

There must be a reason for telling me this.

“My face must have looked very pathetic.”

“There are many quick-witted people in the palace. It’s best not to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Now, go to Princess Jaga.”

Song Bi said that and strode towards Princess Jaga.

“Princess Jaga, Sung Gyeom-sabok has arrived.”

“Oh, when did Sung Gyeom-sabok arrive?”

Sia, who was holding and soothing a cat, discovered Sung Gyeom-sabok and ran over, smiling brightly as if she was happy to see him.

‘If it was for this, I wouldn’t mind having my beard pulled out as much as necessary.’

If she was Siae’s daughter, she was like my own daughter.

I know it’s presumptuous to say this, but I wanted to protect her from ever experiencing such dangerous things again.

“I have something to tell you about Physician Heo Yeon-tae.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Hugging the cat in her arms, the Princess had others step back so the two of them could walk and talk for a while.

The young Princess Jaga, who hadn’t fully matured yet, was rather free in these matters.

“So, is the investigation into Heo Yeon-tae finished to your satisfaction?”

“Yes, Princess Jaga.”

I still hadn’t decided how much to tell Princess Jaga.

But I had to tell her the truth to some extent. Even if it wasn’t dangerous, she needed to know in case it was revealed someday.

I had organized everything I wanted to say and went to see her, but she smiled and waved her hand.

“It’s enough if Sung Gyeom-sabok thought there was no need to suspect him anymore. There’s no need to go into detail.”

“But, Princess Jaga.”

“There’s no good in knowing too much about other people’s family affairs.”

“You’re assuming it’s about family affairs.”

“People’s lives are all the same, aren’t they?”

“That’s… right.”

For now, I only told the Princess the facts that she would naturally find out later.

That Geumbi, the female physician who wrote the medical book, was originally a female physician in the Royal Clinic and was friends with Heo Yeon-tae, but was accidentally involved with rebels.

She seemed a little surprised at those words, but after thinking for a moment, the Princess didn’t press further.

“That’s enough.”

“Are you sure you’re alright with this?”

“I won’t blame him if it wasn’t his fault and the person involved has already passed away. Don’t worry and keep it to yourself.”

“Yes, Princess Jaga.”

I thought she would be more sensitive about the rebels because she was royalty, but Princess Jaga didn’t show much agitation.

As expected, she was a deep person even though she was still young.

After all, she had gone through extraordinary things since she was a child.

I wondered if telling such a person about the dark stories of the royal family or the story of her birth would only add to her burden, so Sung Gyeom-sabok couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“Sung Gyeom-sabok, you’ve worked hard all this time. Take a break.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be going to work instead of resting?”

“I can’t deny that.”

The Princess said that and had Sung Gyeom-sabok brought into her residence and served simple refreshments. It was meant to be a light snack, but when Sung Gyeom-sabok said he hadn’t eaten, she ended up bringing out a proper meal.

The secret talk was over, and it was time for real small talk.

“How is Cheonho?”

“Hmm. He’s adapting quickly.”

“He’s a talented young man and worth raising. But Princess Jaga seems a little happy.”

“Huh? Really? Well, that’s good then.”

A clumsy voice cut in between the two.

“Um… wouldn’t you mind sharing those words where I’m not around?”

“He seems to have a good talent and follows Princess Jaga, so I want to train him a little more.”

“Then do that.”

“Princess Jaga?!”

Cheonho, whose opinion was ignored and whose post-meal training schedule was forcibly decided, ate his share of the snacks with a sullen face.

‘I’m still not sure what that guy’s purpose is, to be honest. He doesn’t seem like a bad guy since he tried to save Princess Jaga without knowing her identity. But it seems likely that he will end up by the side of His Highness the Crown Prince later. I can see that he has talent, so I can’t help but want to train him.’

Anyway, it’s a bit difficult to have a young man protect Princess Jaga.

It was enough to have him assist me and then send him on his way.

What Princess Jaga needed by her side was not someone who would pass by for a while, but someone who would move only for Princess Jaga.

From what I’ve seen so far, it was clear that His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince cherished Princess Jaga.

There was no doubt about that.

But they were the King and the Crown Prince.

They wouldn’t put Princess Jaga first.

Wasn’t the fact that Princess Jaga was kidnapped ultimately used politically?

Princess Jaga, the person involved, didn’t seem to care, but people like me couldn’t help but be dissatisfied.

Of course, what meaning would a Gyeomsabok [a junior officer] or a court lady have to those high-ranking people?

Uncle Sung has been strange lately.

His eyes have become sentimental for no reason, and I heard that he goes out for drinks with Physician Heo, who knows when he became so close.

He investigated diligently and must have found something in common.

Oh my, I almost caused a big problem if I had punished him.

“Well… it’s good if the uncles get along well.”

“Well, he doesn’t seem to have any friends.”

This guy is good at talking nonsense.

Cheonho, the person who delivered this news, has been a little twisted lately.

Well, I guess it can’t be helped. It seems like he’s been getting pushed around by Sung Gyeom-sabok a lot these days.

“Speaking of which, Cheonho, what about your uncle? I heard he entered the palace?”

“It’s not like he entered a great position or anything. But he seems to be doing well, maybe because he knows someone in the palace. I heard there are people from the Chakhogun [Capital Guards].”

“Ah, well, Gyeomsabok and that side are meritocratic, so status isn’t important for the job.”

Of course, it will be filled with children from wealthy families if it becomes corrupt over time.

“Are you going to go that way too, Cheonho?”

“No, why would I go into a death trap when I have such a good job?”

“That’s true.”

It was a comfortable job since his main duties were eating well, playing with me, or running errands for me outside.

Except that there was no possibility of promotion.

“There are people who don’t like that I’m playing with Princess Jaga here, though.”

“Hmm. But you won’t be able to play soon.”

“?”

“If smallpox is somewhat resolved, I should go out a bit now.”

“Pardon?”

Cheonho had a questioning look on his face, as if he wanted to say, ‘Is it okay for Princess Jaga, who hasn’t even come of age, to wander around outside the palace like that?’ But if you’re going to do business, you have to check it out with your own eyes to some extent.

Of course, the Siyoungwon [Princess’s personal guard] people would have taken care of it while I was away, but I couldn’t feel relieved unless I saw it with my own eyes.

“I have to check the newly built building myself.”

“Ah. I heard that you built a new building. I’ve never been inside, but I’ve seen the construction a few times.”

“Hmm… I hesitated a bit, but it’s more focused on tea and snacks than a restaurant.”

“Then is it a tea house?”

“No, it’s more like a cultural space.”

“?”

That was too unfamiliar of an expression for this era.

The newly built building was designed with a stage space where performances could be held.

It was quite large, so it was possible to do plays as well as sing.

There was a stage in the center, and tables around it where you could drink tea and watch the performance.

The building had a two-story structure, so you could look down at the stage from above.

‘Maybe the people with money will gather on the second floor.’

There aren’t that many people here who can spend money on performances yet.

I thought about selling alcohol and food, but there were so many people who turned into dogs when they drank [become unruly or violent].

There was already a widespread perception that you could treat performing actors and singers badly, and if they drank alcohol and caused trouble, I couldn’t handle it… well, I could handle it, but it would be annoying.

For similar reasons, when I first came up with this idea, the gisaengs [female entertainers] and clowns were happy but also secretly worried. Just like Cheonho is saying now.