Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 188

I was born as the daughter of a low-ranking concubine. Episode 188

As I spent more time around the entertainers at Siwol Pavilion, the children who were interested began subtly encouraging each other to dance together.

Since some of the children were already learning songs and dances from Maehyang or Songhwa, the overall quality naturally improved.

It wasn’t really the norm to have men and women dancing together, so the kids interested in music and dance gathered and whispered, eventually starting to dance separately.

‘Aren’t they cold……?’

They insisted they weren’t cold because they were moving. Youth is indeed a wonderful thing.

I once mentioned in passing that it might be interesting to see a group dance with synchronized formations, and before I knew it… that’s exactly what they were doing.

“Are they going to perform on stage at Siwol Pavilion too?”

“The dance is a bit energetic, so they’re reinforcing the stage before letting them perform. I’m not sure what you think. I don’t really like flashy songs, but the young ones definitely seem to enjoy it.”

Come to think of it, the stage collapsed during the play performance last time, and people even got injured.

Should I suggest rebuilding it entirely?

“Hmm. Well, it’s fine to let them do it if they enjoy it.”

The people at Siyoungwon [a type of entertainment venue] seem to like it, which is probably why they’re doing it.

If things go well, I might unintentionally bring about the first revival of K-pop with my own hands.

‘No, in 100 years, will that also be considered Korean traditional music……?’

By the way, among the boys, I think there’s definitely one who came to me as a slave during the previous rebellion…….

I glanced around and saw a middle-aged woman, presumably the boy’s mother, looking at her son with a lost expression.

Ah…… I’m sorry……!

It’s not my fault, but I still feel a bit sorry……!

‘Even though he became a slave, it seems like his family was originally from the noble class, so they must have been pushing him hard to study…….’

Maybe his mother wanted him to become a doctor at the very least, but children don’t always do what their parents want…….

“We won’t know if it will work out until we try. Well…… if it doesn’t work out, I can always take them into my private residence later, so don’t worry too much.”

“Everyone will be happy to hear that.”

Maid Min seemed worried about the children’s future, so she was delighted and pleased with my words.

“Um. But let’s not tell them. They need to be desperate to work hard.”

“Yes.”

Individual boy groups and girl groups are spontaneously forming without anyone telling them to.

I’m happy, but…… is this okay?

The songs I heard in modern times are getting blurry, and I can’t remember them well, but I should still be able to recreate them to some extent, right?

Of course, that’s only possible after I leave for my private residence…… I’m planning to leave somehow after I grow up.

Seeing the children, I was also strangely excited.

‘Ah, but this makes me look like a bad authority figure who wants the kids to fail.’

Of course, if they succeed, I’ll be able to make money, so either way, it’s not bad for me.

Come to think of it, if they succeed, they might need bodyguards because of the fans.

And from now on, I need to pay more attention to preventing the audience from approaching when setting up the stage.

Besides, I also need musicians to play instruments for the kids’ performances…….

While I was spinning my head thinking about manpower allocation and ways to make money, Soi and Maid Min forcibly equipped me with my outer coat, hat, scarf, and other things that I had taken off when I went inside.

‘Heavy.’

I’m worried about catching a cold, but is it okay to turn someone into a cotton ball like this?

I’ve been falling asleep so often lately, so people’s overprotection seems to have gotten worse.

I waddled around, even wearing the shoes that Soi put on for me.

Just in case, let me tell you, I’m not getting help with my shoes just because I’m a royal and acting important. It’s just that my body is too bundled up because of the clothes, so it’s hard to put on shoes by myself.

“Let’s go.”

“Are you done, Young Miss?”

“Yeah.”

When I called, Cheonho picked me up, who had become a cotton ball.

No, this isn’t just me acting spoiled; it’s just that my body is clumsy because of the clothes, so the stairs are a bit dangerous.

Maybe it’s because I’m wearing so many thick clothes. Lately, I sometimes feel like I’ve become a big bear doll.

We’re also similar in size.

Ugh, I really need to grow up quickly.

“Then I’ll come again.”

“Yes, Young Miss. Don’t overdo it and get some rest.”

“I think I’ll get sicker if I stay still.”

“Hehe. Yes.”

“Oh, don’t tell the kids about that.”

Maid Min is smiling now, but her eyes have been red ever since she heard me say I was growing, and she still hasn’t returned to normal.

“They’ll be sad if they find out later.”

“If they get excited and make a fuss now, we won’t be able to handle it.”

“…….”

Maid Min is the one who suffers when the kids get excited and make a fuss. She already looks tired these days.

“Won’t they find out after a little time anyway?”

“Yes. I understand.”

I don’t know how much taller I’ll get, but Sehwa’s treatment can’t be wrong, so I’ll definitely grow taller in the future.

We parted with tired faces.

After leaving Siyoungwon, I stopped by the doctor and the school to check my condition and meet some people.

The playground equipment was also reopening, so I checked it out and returned to the palace, where someone was waiting for me.

“Ah. State Security Officer Seong is back.”

“Princess!”

State Security Officer Seong, who had been restless and standing outside, rushed to me as soon as he saw me and scanned me up and down as if observing me, then tilted his head.

It seemed he had heard that my illness was improving and I had grown a little.

“You seem to have grown a little…….”

It’s not that noticeable…….

“Do you want to try?”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

When I reached out my arms, State Security Officer Seong lifted me up.

“……You seem a little heavier than before……?”

“Isn’t that probably because of the clothes rather than the height?”

What’s with the weight of winter clothes?

Honestly, my shoulders are a bit heavy now even though I didn’t carry anything.

‘Should I suggest putting down feathers instead of cotton in winter clothes?’

Afterwards, Soi brought the record of my height and calmed down State Security Officer Seong.

Like most people around me, State Security Officer Seong’s eyes turned red at the 1cm difference, and he became a person who tightly closed his mouth and aimlessly looked at the sky.

No. It’s not enough to cry.

After going through the growth confirmation process appropriately, I went inside and received a report from State Security Officer Seong.

“I am sorry, but I failed to track him down.”

“Um. I thought so.”

State Security Officer Seong had been acting alone since Gangwon-do because I had told him to look for the former Jwaseseuma [a former military official].

No, it’s suspicious that they’re secretly running away like criminals. I was going to find out why.

I even got permission from the King because it meant one State Security Officer was missing, but he just nodded his head, telling me to do as I pleased.

State Security Officer Seong, who had been wandering around Gangwon-do alone, unfortunately returned empty-handed.

“We actually met him on the way back to the capital.”

“Yes? Then you met him?”

“I don’t know if you can call it meeting him.”

I sighed and slumped my shoulders.

Instead of me, Cheonho answered.

“These days, the Princess often falls asleep because of the medicine. We ran into him by chance, but the Princess fell asleep, so she couldn’t meet him.”

Cheonho didn’t have the ability to hold both people while holding me.

“Well, did you find out anything else?”

“I met someone who knew Yeon Seon-oh, the former Jwaseseuma, but there was nothing special. He just said that he went to his hometown after retiring from the Ikwisa [military unit], so there was nothing suspicious.”

“He didn’t commit any crimes or anything?”

“No.”

“Hmm. What’s his situation like?”

“He seemed to be doing well. I heard that his injured area sometimes gets worse.”

“Okay.”

He fought a tiger with his life on the line and suffered a major injury, so it would be a relief if he didn’t have PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder].

There are no psychiatrists in this era, so there’s nothing I can do.

“I only made State Security Officer Seong suffer in the cold for nothing.”

“No. But why were you looking for him so much? What were you going to do with him?”

“Um. I was worried because he suddenly disappeared. I wanted to do something for him when he left the palace before, but I couldn’t because I wasn’t in a situation to do so.”

Because I was unconscious at the time.

“I was going to help him if his livelihood was difficult, but if he’s okay, then that’s fine. It would be a nuisance to force him too much when he doesn’t want to get involved.”

“He wouldn’t think of it as a nuisance.”

“Um. No. Come to think of it, he might not feel good if he sees me.”

“Princess.”

Seeing me would remind him of the Crown Prince, so he might feel guilty and distressed.

‘I hope he feels a little lighter after helping the Crown Prince this time.’

With a sigh, I gave up my last attachment to this trip to Gangwon-do.

‘Let’s think about something productive.’

I was too busy to worry about things I didn’t need to worry about.

Even though I had many days when I nodded off because of the strong medicine, there was still a lot to do, and time passed quickly.

Of course, the Naryehoe [a ceremony to ward off evil spirits] and Naryeon preparations were also progressing smoothly.

Everyone seemed happy, as it was an event that started as Byeoksa (辟邪: meaning to ward off evil spirits) but eventually degenerated into a festival for watching and playing.

‘Come to think of it, it’s kind of similar to watching TV award show performances at the end of the year.’

In fact, nothing changes or becomes new just because it’s the end of the year.

Isn’t it a ritual to try to change the mood by giving meaning like this?

Even this time, the Crown Prince, who everyone thought was in big trouble, returned safely, so it was even grander than before.

It also had the meaning of warding off bad luck.

And I…… unintentionally got caught up in it again this time.

‘I thought I would avoid it this time.’

All of this was because of the Crown Prince.

The gisaengs [female entertainers] I brought were naturally mobilized, and my people were stationed here and there to manage them so that exploitation wouldn’t occur, as I had discussed with the Crown Prince before.

Everyone was busy preparing for plays, songs, and performances.

Moreover, using the excuse that the Crown Prince still couldn’t move his legs much, the work even fell to me again.

‘That guy goes out on secret outings and even dates when he’s perfectly fine!’

It was frustrating and unfair, but it wasn’t something I could go around and talk about.

I could only harbor resentment and glare at the Crown Prince.

‘Just you wait……!’

And the Crown Prince, who passed the work on to me, was receiving treatment from Sehwa, making her his personal physician, saying that he would keep a reliable doctor by his side since he was in Gangwon-do.

No. Sehwa is originally my personal physician……?

Of course, Sehwa hadn’t stepped down from my treatment, but it was a bit awkward.

And I decided to make excuses to the person who was feeling somewhat awkward, just like me.

“Seongji understands. He’s doing that because he has ulterior motives.”

“Oh my.”

It was Seongji who treated the Crown Prince who had been treated by Sehwa and came down from the mountain.