Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 161

I was born as the daughter of a low-ranking concubine.

Of course, in regions where maintaining a performance culture seemed feasible, the plan was to purchase or build new facilities and concentrate the Gisaengs [female entertainers trained in music, dance, and poetry] there. Structurally, building anew was preferable, but it would cost a lot of money and time, so I planned to subtly request subsidies from the Crown Prince.

Well… if a performance is needed, request it in advance and draw from the allocated resources.

But this was a first.

“Are you Maehyang? I’ve heard the name. They say there’s a Gisaeng who’s deluding the Ongju [royal princess] herself and dreaming of entering the palace.”

Suddenly, a group of Gisaengs appeared and started a confrontation with Maehyang!

A glove-throwing pattern, that’s new. Refreshing.

And Maehyang would never just stand there and take it.

“I’m sorry, but the place I aspire to enter isn’t the palace, but the Ongjubang [the Ongju’s personal residence and staff].”

“…What?”

“You don’t seem to know yet, but being in the Ongju’s favor is the best position for Gisaengs. Sigh, well, what can you do? How would a Gisaeng from the backwoods of Gangwon-do [a mountainous province in Korea] know how the world works?”

“What, what did you say?”

How did she become such a master of provocation?

I chewed on boiled potatoes from Gangwon-do, which the palace maids had somehow acquired, and began to watch the spectacle, now quite accustomed to it.

Potatoes seem to have been introduced during the late Joseon period [Korean dynasty from 1392 to 1897], but they already have them here.

‘If we expand trade, can’t we bring in cacao too?’

While I was lost in thought, the two of them were already engaged in an impromptu battle in their respective fields of expertise.

‘Their energy is impressive…’

It’s early winter, but they don’t seem to be cold.

I couldn’t stand it any longer and addressed them.

“Wouldn’t it be better to continue this inside, if possible?”

“We’re fine!”

“This is more comfortable for us!”

That Gisaeng probably doesn’t even know who I am.

I’m worried she’ll bow her head in apology later.

“Why are they fighting over something like that?”

“It’s similar to when Cheonho started a sword fight as soon as he met Seong Gyeom-sabok.”

“That’s not true! I’m wronged!”

“No, I’m wronged too.”

Cheonho and Seong Gyeom-sabok, who were arguing loudly, finally quieted down when Maehyang started singing.

Cheonho had been surprisingly active on the way here.

My father had even assigned Seong Gyeom-sabok to me for safety, but as expected, wild animals should be handled by experts. He was already shooting them with arrows before they even came near us.

“What do you do with the leopard you catch?”

“Sell the skin, what else?”

“You caught a roe deer too, what about that?”

“It’s useless. The skin isn’t good, and the meat smells… I just shoot it without thinking because it screams and threatens me.”

He must have abandoned it.

At first, Cheonho watched the Gisaengs’ rap battle… no, singing contest, with fascination, but now he just listened to the songs with a familiar look, grooming the leather.

They seemed to be taking turns singing, then acknowledged each other’s skills, shook hands, and agreed to compete again later.

Listening to their conversation, it was clear that she believed she would win with her connections anyway, so she was issuing a challenge to gather with Gisaengs from other regions at Siwolgak [a famous pavilion] and compete.

‘Why do I feel like I have to hold a Joseon Paldo [the eight provinces of Korea] singing contest later?’

I should hold regional competitions first and invite the winners to Seoul. While I was thinking about that, Maehyang brought over the Gisaeng who had been talking for a while.

“I am called Haewol. I apologize for not recognizing the Ongju herself and being late with my greetings.”

“It’s alright. How is it? Did you and Maehyang get along well?”

“Yes!”

The Gisaeng named Haewol, who answered with a bright face, said something unexpected.

“I heard from Maehyang that the lives of Seoul Gisaengs have changed. Can we experience that as well?”

“Well, I can’t guarantee it.”

There are so many people all over the country.

“I dare to ask for a favor.”

“What is it?”

“I hope you will inoculate us with the smallpox vaccine.”

“Hmm… right now?”

“Is it not possible?”

“No. Then who will attend the banquet today?”

“Wouldn’t it be possible to vaccinate the children who are not coming today first?”

Right. There must be a lot of people here too.

I shook my head with a sense of apology, looking at Sehwa and Seongji, whose workload had increased without a break.

Since she’s asking, I can’t refuse.

The two, with tired faces, tried to show me a smiling face.

And not long after, I met my father and the Crown Prince, who had left later than me but arrived at a similar time.

“Sia [term of address for a princess].”

“Father. Brother.”

“Did anything happen on the way here?”

“Of course.”

It seemed like they were busy too.

While having a meal with the banquet and chatting for a while with refreshments, I offered them the information about corrupt officials that I had collected from the Siyoungwon [orphanage] children, the Gisaengs, and other merchants on the way here.

Actually, I didn’t collect it intentionally, but I naturally learned about it while listening to various stories while giving vaccinations, and Seong Gyeom-sabok was still making good use of his aptitude.

“Cross-validation is necessary, but there are such rumors.”

“You’re still good at your job.”

Feeling a slight chill at the Crown Prince’s impressed words, I shook my head firmly.

“Seong Gyeom-sabok is doing a really good job!”

“Haha. Yes.”

No… don’t look at me like that.

We had a meal together for the first time in a while and had a conversation.

“I was thinking that it would be good to make it like Siyoungwon, not just replacing the Gibang [government-run Gisaeng houses].”

“Can it be managed if you do that?”

“There are teachers dispatched from Siyoungwon, so I think it will be possible in the long term, but the budget issue is significant.”

Give me money.

“And I’ve also considered creating a performance hall to replace the Gibang. But it’s difficult to judge whether there will be people who will pay that much money to see the stage. I was wondering if it would be better to make it like the Siyoungwon playground.”

“You mean the place with the rides?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of making small rides and a stage too.”

Since there are fewer people and less income than in Seoul, and fewer people who enjoy cultural life, it was impossible to do it in the same way and on the same scale as in Seoul.

While having various conversations, Sangseon informed us from outside the door that Sehwa and Gai had arrived.

“What’s going on?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I have come to escort the Ongju.”

“Me? Why? Ah.”

I realized why they had come to find me.

“It is the Ongju’s acupuncture time.”

“Ah, already?”

“Treatment time is important. Besides, it’s late, so the Ongju should go and rest.”

“Yes, Father.”

Half-chased out at the level of eviction, I had to listen to nagging from Sehwa and Gai while being half-dragged away.

“The Ongju is working too hard.”

“Yes, really.”

“Is that so.”

“Your Highness is still young, so you must not overdo it. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

I’ll have to play for a while anyway.

I asked Sehwa while getting acupuncture.

“Sehwa, are you going into the mountains tomorrow?”

“Yes. If I find medicinal herbs, I will make medicine right away. It would be good to find someone who has seen medicinal herbs, but it is not easy to find.”

“Ah. I asked a child in this area to look for it, but it seems difficult. He said he didn’t know who he heard it from.”

“Still, it’s enough to know the area.”

“I heard that he received a call and is already looking with nearby herbalists. I’ve left a message, so meet him directly in the mountains tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

After a certain amount of time, Sehwa pulled out the needles she had inserted.

“Your Highness will stay here.”

“It seems like it would be easier for many people to do that.”

Everyone will worry if I’m in a dangerous place.

“There will be a military drill from tomorrow, so the weather should be good.”

“It will be fine.”

“It’s Gangwon-do, will it be okay?”

Sehwa smiled as if to reassure me at my words.

“Joseon is all mountainous, so isn’t it similar no matter where you do it? You’ve done it several times before, so there won’t be any problems.”

“Is that so?”

Sehwa grew up in the mountains, so she doesn’t seem to know anything about the rumors of Crown Prince Seongwon.

‘Well, no one would dare to spread such rumors now.’

“Yes. There was such a thing before, so you’ll do well.”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing. It’s dangerous for Sehwa, so don’t go alone, go with several people.”

Gai, who was listening to our conversation, also chimed in from the side.

“You must be careful.”

“Yes. Well, I heard that there used to be tigers living in the mountains, so I was worried that you might not know.”

“Tigers?”

“Yes. There was a tiger hunt once before, but no matter how hard they tried to catch them, they kept appearing from somewhere.”

“Ah…”

Well, the tigers living on the Korean Peninsula were Siberian tigers. They would be endlessly replenished from the north, climbing the mountains, so there was no end to catching them.

“The Crown Prince has also assigned escorts. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yes.”

Sehwa comforted me, perhaps because I had a very worried look on my face.

The next morning. When I woke up, everyone had already left for the mountains early in the morning.

‘As expected, the life of an Ongju. Not bad at all.’

A life of sleeping in, eating, and playing while everyone else works.

But I haven’t worked a lot for someone born with a good fortune…

I was thinking such useless thoughts, eating as I was fed from the side, wearing what I was dressed in, and came outside.

My body trembled from the cold, but it was also impossible to be stuck in a room after coming all the way to another province.

“Shall I play with Jeok-a [the name of her horse] a little? It’s not snowing yet, so it’s okay to ride a horse and walk a little.”

“Be careful, it’s an unfamiliar place.”

“Yes.”