Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 191

Thanks to Yeongcheon-gun dragging various people down with him to avoid dying alone, many were forced to endure repeated visits to the Uigeumbu [a Joseon Dynasty judicial office] or face grueling cross-examinations. They experienced horrors they never wanted to relive.

Everyone had witnessed firsthand the consequences of being implicated in treason, so the atmosphere was understandably tense.

It was pitiful to watch them carefully measure their words and actions, as if walking on thin ice.

In contrast, I heard that Siwolgak [referring to the Princess’s residence or project] was particularly crowded with royal relatives.

This meant even more people were eager to impress me, no matter the cost.

‘Ugh, this is annoying in its own way.’

I often fell asleep, and on days when I didn’t, I was busy with work, so I turned away everyone who came to visit. It seemed they were now congregating here instead.

They seemed to know that at least they would be informed about who had come and gone.

The royal relatives were, in a way, quite pathetic.

Unless it was during the chaotic early days of the dynasty, there weren’t many ambitious royals vying for the throne.

This country, in fact, didn’t grant any official positions to princes other than the Crown Prince, making it difficult to gain any real power. The official positions that royal relatives did receive were mostly related to managing the royal household, such as the Saongwon (司饔院) [an office responsible for royal cuisine], which was far removed from politics.

At least this world was more lenient in that a royal son-in-law could still have a successful career.

‘Originally, the Joseon Dynasty was too strict.’

The royal son-in-law couldn’t have a successful career, but the family members, excluding the son-in-law himself, could actually rise in status, which was a strange system.

Well, that was irrelevant to the current situation.

‘The royal relatives will calm down after a while.’

It was inevitable that they were so scared right now.

But one day, while I was thinking this, I received a message from an unexpected source.

“Muyeong-gun and Song-an?”

“Yes, they sent a polite letter to Princess Ongju along with New Year’s gifts.”

Along with celadon [a type of Korean pottery] that they had prepared as a gift, there were letters written by each of them.

‘I’m receiving too many bribes……’

I wasn’t really giving them anything in return, yet everyone was sending me gifts and trying to curry favor, which was rather sad.

It’s not like I’m taking requests or treating them better just because I received bribes.

‘I’m even making a list and giving it to the King and the Crown Prince.’

And the King and the Crown Prince just smiled kindly, saying that this was too trivial to be considered a bribe.

How much are the officials receiving then?

“Hmm.”

The contents of the letters sent by the two were similar.

The beginning was a lengthy greeting. The main point that followed was, simply put, that they wanted me to send them to the Siwolgak branch that was being built in Gangwon-do, which they had seen during our last visit.

They might not be helpful in terms of practical work, but at least there would be fewer objections to their presence, and it would be good for the Siyeongwon [a group or organization under the Princess’s patronage] people to work with them, wouldn’t it?

The two had already been to Gangwon-do when they accompanied me last time, so they were even emphasizing that they were the right people for the job.

It was sudden, but I could see their reasoning.

‘They’re saying that their future is bleak anyway.’

They were royals, so they wouldn’t starve, but they would have to live with constant anxiety for the rest of their lives.

I don’t know if Song-an is interested in marriage, but it won’t be easy to find her a suitable match.

‘Hmm.’

In a way, this means they’re relying on me.

I hope it doesn’t become my fault if something goes wrong.

And the problem was that this kind of letter didn’t just come from Song-an.

‘The royal relatives with daughters suddenly want their daughters to get jobs.’

The royal relatives who are close enough to send me letters can’t be poor, so it’s not about the money.

They probably want to establish a connection with me, no matter what.

Even if it’s difficult to use me politically.

‘Our palace maids defended Song-an this time, but they were just telling the truth……’

Or maybe they misunderstood because I sent someone to comfort Hwacheon-gun separately.

Do they want me to help them if something happens?

If they were forced out of their homes, that would be a bit pitiful…….

It was even more unsettling because not only the person who wanted to get a job sent me a letter, but also their parents.

‘My child is smart, capable, and will do a good job!’

The letters sent by the parents were roughly like this.

‘I’ll work. Just give me a job.’

The letters sent by the person who had to work were like this.

I unintentionally became an employer who received letters of recommendation and resumes, and honestly, I’m a bit bewildered.

Maybe they remember the work I recommended to the royal women before, so they’re doing this.

‘Hmm. But it’s not bad that high-quality personnel are coming to work…… right?’

It wasn’t just royal women, there were also men, but I put them on hold for now.

What royal men do is originally enjoying the arts…… I think they would all like it if I told them to do it, but there was no guarantee that they wouldn’t do something that deviated from the original intention because they liked it too much.

In fact, there is a fatal problem that even the women may not cooperate with their male siblings.

‘Wouldn’t it be possible if I set strict rules, educate them, and send them?’

Even if the Siyeongwon teachers sent to each region are popular, there are still limitations in their status.

Of course, they won’t treat them badly because they have my backing…… but it would be easier to have a royal, who is the ultimate authority in the class system.

‘But it’s so rural.’

Besides, among the royal women, there are naturally many who are already married, so it was a bit difficult to send them to the countryside. But if I send them to their husbands’ hometowns, the side effects would be unimaginable.

‘Or should I make it a course for unmarried women to go through?’

If I send the Siyeongwon kids with a lot of escorts…….

‘No. More than that, only Gangwon-do has even broken ground yet……’

I wanted to send them, but there was nowhere to send them.

Soi, who was watching me worry, asked.

“What are you going to do?”

“Well…… I think I should just accept Song-an for now, since she must be anxious these days.”

When I went to Gangwon-do before, I saw that she really liked watching performances and didn’t seem to have any thoughts about marriage.

The royal men have been quiet lately, but now the women might be wandering around.

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“Aptitude is important too. Um. I think I’ll need to educate them first, so I’ll have to think about that through the practitioners…….”

Why can’t I rest?

No, but considering that they might run away later, I need to work hard to build it up now.

‘I should go on a national tour later.’

I sighed as I organized the things I had to do.

“I’m also looking into setting up branch offices in other regions, so I really don’t have time to rest.”

“No, you should still rest.”

“Oh…….”

“You’re saying everything you’re thinking right now.”

“Oh…….”

“Don’t say ‘oh’…….”

“Oh…….”

“Ugh, you have to sleep when you’re sleepy.”

“Okay…….”

Soi sighed, took the brush from my hand, and laid me down on the mattress.

“Ugh…… I have…… a lot of work to do…….”

“You still have to sleep.”

“I’m…… sleepy right now, but I can’t fall asleep……. Is the medicine wearing off……?”

“Ugh. You’ll fall asleep soon if you close your eyes.”

As Soi said that, a ball of fur snuggled into my arms.

No, rather than snuggling, it just climbed onto my body.

“Heavy…….”

Miaow.

The kitten was small when it was a baby, but now it has grown to a size that doesn’t suit the name Kkoma [meaning ‘small one’ in Korean], putting pressure on my body. Soi picked it up and put it on the floor.

Miaow, miaow.

It protested loudly, so I had no choice but to hold it in my arms, and then it became quiet.

“There was something else I had to do…….”

“Think about it later.”

“First…… read the letters that came.”

I held the cat and listened to the report with sleepy eyes.

Maybe it’s because the heated floor was warm, but I felt even sleepier.

The cat, which has grown quite a bit now, comes and snuggles up to me whenever I sleep these days, so I just leave it in the room as a heater.

‘It’s heavy but warm.’

I thought I was getting a little better, but I’ve been getting sleepier and sleepier lately.

And when I open my eyes, I’m hungry.

Thanks to that, I’m living a life that’s not even like a noble, let alone a royal, eating while working.

‘I think I’m getting taller while I’m just eating and sleeping.’

While I was sleeping and eating diligently as if hibernating, the little remaining cold disappeared and it was already spring.

The royal relatives who wanted to get jobs couldn’t urge me, who was known to be sick, and time passed quietly.

I should go flower viewing in the spring.

I was admiring the spring flowers blooming in the palace on Cheonho’s back.

I was walking fine until just now, but it was thanks to almost falling.

“Why is there so much work?”

“In Princess Ongju’s case, it’s your own fault.”

The fact that I couldn’t deny it made me a little sad.

“How’s the Siyeongwon kids working these days?”

“It’s always the same. The teachers are busy because there are smart kids and lacking kids.”

“Um. I want to go out and play soon.”

“Everyone will be surprised if Princess Ongju goes out.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You’ve grown a lot in the past few months.”

As Cheonho said, my height has grown quite a bit now that several months have passed since I took the medicine made by Sehwa.

Before, even if I said I grew, I was doubtful whether I really grew, but now I can definitely tell that I grew.

I even noticed that the length of my skirt and jeogori [Korean traditional jacket] had become shorter.

“My joints hurt…….”

“It’s because you’re growing too fast. I was like that when I was growing up.”

“Ah…… that’s right. Cheonho must have grown quickly too.”

He’s sixteen now, but the fact that he was already that big at fifteen means that he grew rapidly during his growth spurt.

“Princess Ongju. You’ve been falling a lot lately, haven’t you?”

“Um. I almost fell just now.”

“You tend to do that when you grow suddenly. It doesn’t matter to me since I grew up falling and getting hurt in the mountains, but Princess Ongju, you’ll be in trouble if you do that, so be careful.”

“No, it’s not like I’m so weak that something will happen if I fall, what are you talking about.”

“It means you’re precious.”

“Ah, right.”

Cheonho told me about his experiences with growing pains, saying that his uncle massaged his limbs when he was growing up.

“It would be a big deal if I grew as much as Cheonho.”

“That’s right. Probably.”

I also thought of something when I said that, but I reserved it for a while because it wasn’t something I could say for sure.