Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 282

Born as the daughter of a low-ranking concubine [a woman of lower social standing who lives with a man but is not his wife] (282)

Kim Hwe-yeop was inwardly startled by the Crown Prince’s sudden remark, but he managed to maintain a slightly puzzled expression without showing any particular reaction.

He had come to know Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik at the Northern Garrison, and he had never left Hamgyeong Province until he met Cheon-ho.

Naturally, he had never met Cheon-ho or his sister during the treasonous events in Hanyang [the capital city of Joseon, now Seoul].

So, the Crown Prince was probably not asking about the thousands who had been in Hanyang in the past.

Therefore, answering in this way was not a lie.

“No, I have never met them.”

“So you wouldn’t know their faces.”

“That is correct.”

Revealing that Cheon-ho was actually the son of Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik was something to be done after clearing Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik of the false charge of treason.

Of course, he had heard that Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik had children while living in Hamgyeong Province, but they were so young that he had never met them.

‘Those children are the ones whose fate is uncertain…’

He had tried to find them, but most of the people who would know about the events at that time were already dead or had disappeared.

Since they were even younger than Cheon-ho at the time, they probably weren’t killed even if they were the children of traitors.

If someone had taken them and run away, they might be living as commoners without knowing their origins, or they might be slaves.

In fact, what would he do even if he found them?

The reality was that raising Cheon-ho alone was overwhelming enough.

Even Cheon-ho, his own blood relative, had never mentioned his half-siblings, whom he had never even seen.

When he had casually mentioned it once, Cheon-ho had simply made a complicated face.

After all, Cheon-ho himself had become an orphan overnight and was relying on an uncle he had never met before.

He wasn’t shameless enough to ask to find his half-siblings, whose faces he didn’t know, let alone their names.

‘But why is His Highness asking about this?’

As if answering Kim Hwe-yeop’s question, the Crown Prince unexpectedly approached him.

Then, in a voice too small for others to hear, he said something unexpected.

“Do you know who the person who just handed you the medicine is?”

“Yes? I… I’m not sure.”

Judging by the attire, it was clearly a physician from the royal infirmary.

‘Coming to a place like this, they must be a physician trusted by the Crown Prince… Ah, could it be?’

And if it was a female physician trusted by the Crown Prince, there was only one person who came to mind.

As if reading Kim Hwe-yeop’s mind, the Crown Prince opened his mouth.

“You must have heard about the physician who cured Princess Suyeong’s incurable disease, haven’t you?”

“Yes, yes, I have.”

“The physician here is the very one.”

“…….”

Who in all of Joseon wouldn’t know who the physician who cured Princess Suyeong was?

Even though they were already a famous physician, thanks to the newspaper published by Princess Suyeong, it was impossible not to know about them.

Even spies would probably know about the two female physicians, Se-hwa and Seong-ji, who were trusted by His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

‘But why is such a person in a place like this…’

He had heard that the Crown Prince favored them, but there was no need to bring them all the way here to personally deliver medicine.

Thinking so, Kim Hwe-yeop glanced at Se-hwa, who was still standing next to the Crown Prince, with a questioning look.

As if reading his mind again, the Crown Prince gave him an answer.

“The physician Se-hwa here is actually the daughter of Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik.”

“Yes?”

Kim Hwe-yeop, who had unknowingly raised his voice at the unexpected remark, quickly covered his mouth with both hands.

Then, he stared intently at Se-hwa’s face, who was smiling slightly and bowing to him.

‘They don’t look alike.’

He couldn’t see the face of Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik, whom he remembered, or the face of Cheon-ho, whom he had seen every day for years, although it had become a bit difficult to see him lately, in Se-hwa’s face.

Well, maybe it was better that way.

‘No, but if you look closely, they might resemble each other somewhere…’

He tried to find a familiar face by scrutinizing Se-hwa’s face, but when Se-hwa coughed awkwardly as if embarrassed and turned her head, he had no choice but to restrain himself and step back.

He knew well enough that it was not polite to keep staring at the face of an unmarried woman.

Then, he subtly looked at the Crown Prince’s expression.

What did it mean that the Crown Prince knew that fact and still kept Se-hwa by his side and entrusted her with his health?

“There’s no need to worry so much.”

“Your, Your Highness…”

“I thought it would be good to let you know before you leave that there is someone here who earnestly hopes that you will clear Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik of the false charges.”

“Does that mean…”

What did it mean that the Crown Prince was telling Kim Hwe-yeop that fact now?

The Crown Prince seemed satisfied with his reaction, and without caring whether he was confused by the unexpected fact, he ordered.

“Leave the palace as you are and meet Seong Gyeom-sabok in front of Seodaemun [the Great West Gate of the city] and depart. He will have prepared what you need for the journey. You know his face, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes, Your Highness.”

“I will be waiting for good news.”

With those words, the Crown Prince left without waiting for him to bow.

Se-hwa also bowed lightly to him and disappeared, following the Crown Prince.

“No, no, this is…”

He had to catch Se-hwa, but there were too many eyes watching around, and Se-hwa showed no sign of turning back.

Catching Se-hwa now and talking about Cheon-ho was the same as confessing with his own mouth that he had lied to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Of course, it would be revealed later, but he couldn’t afford to lose trust now.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has given the order. What are you doing? Go quickly.”

“Ah, yes.”

Song Nae-gwan, who had been watching him displeased, approached and urged him, so Kim Hwe-yeop quickly moved his body.

That the famous physician Se-hwa was the daughter of Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik, his brother, was an unexpected fact.

‘No, but what is this, is this okay?’

Kim Hwe-yeop alone was confused to the point of feeling wronged by the fact that they both had such nonchalant faces.

At the same time as thinking about how the Crown Prince knew that fact, the rumor that the two had an unusual relationship suddenly came to mind.

‘Cheon-ho didn’t say anything, but… No, but Cheon-ho himself doesn’t know, does he?’

Even though there was some distance, since they were in the same palace, he might be able to meet and tell Se-hwa that she was his sister.

He felt sorry for Seong Gyeom-sabok, who would be waiting for him at Seodaemun, but it wouldn’t take that long…

“Ah, Cheon-ho won’t be in the palace right now.”

“Yes?”

In front of the Princess’s private residence, which he had found after asking around, Kim Hwe-yeop heard a bolt from the blue.

“He is accompanying the Princess.”

The Princess was not in the palace, and Cheon-ho, who was guarding the Princess, was also not in the palace.

He knew that she often went out to play, but he had heard that she had been quietly staying in the palace lately. It was just his luck that they had to be out of sync like this.

‘Of course, even if the Princess had gone for a walk in the Secret Garden, he wouldn’t have been able to meet him.’

Since the content was what it was, it was dangerous to convey the message separately through someone else.

Besides, all the people who could convey the message were palace people.

Se-hwa must have hidden her identity to be in the royal infirmary, and if the word were to leak out, both Se-hwa and Cheon-ho could be in danger.

Kim Hwe-yeop had no choice but to turn his steps. If he was caught still loitering in the palace, he didn’t know what he would hear again.

‘Damn it.’

To think that they had been so close and he had never known they were siblings.

Apart from the fact that Se-hwa was famous, he had heard various things about Se-hwa.

Cheon-ho, of all people, had sometimes talked about meeting Se-hwa in the palace.

He had even said that they had become quite friendly, and when Hwe-yeop had said that he wasn’t feeling well, Cheon-ho had even suggested, ‘Uncle, if you’re not feeling well, would you like me to ask Se-hwa Noo… Physician to give you a diagnosis?’

Judging by the fact that he said they were close enough to provide that kind of convenience, they seemed to be quite friendly.

‘I must find evidence to clear their names and let the siblings meet…’

To think that his sister was so close and he didn’t even know it.

He knew that Cheon-ho missed his lost sister, even though he pretended not to.

His mother had passed away early, and his father was away in another region.

The young child, who had only his older sister to rely on, had suddenly been separated from his sister for unknown reasons and had to live with dark uncles.

‘I didn’t even think about it because he didn’t show it at all…’

From the beginning, he himself wasn’t able to be a very affectionate person, so he hadn’t taken very good care of the child.

He belatedly thought about it when he saw people around him feeling sorry for Cheon-ho… The seemingly easygoing child had grown up into a child who didn’t easily reveal his inner thoughts to anyone.

‘I raised him, but… There are many times when I don’t know what he’s thinking.’

He had heard that a servant had betrayed them when they were escaping. Perhaps there was a reason for the young boy not showing his feelings.

If that hadn’t happened and he had continued to grow up in his sister’s care, he might have become a much more honest person.

Thinking such thoughts, he hurried along and soon reached Seodaemun. Seong Gyeom-sabok, whom he had seen before, and one person presumed to be an official were waiting for him.

Looking at their faces, it seemed that he hadn’t made them wait too long, fortunately.

Looking at Seong Gyeom-sabok, one person suddenly came to mind.

‘…Cheon-ho’s unusually following the Princess must also be because of the memories of that time.’

That day he escaped from Hanyang.

He had heard that it was the young Princess who had helped Cheon-ho escape.

She had dressed Cheon-ho in the clothes she was wearing and disguised him as a girl to help him escape.

Come to think of it, Cheon-ho had said that his sister was with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at that time.

The young Cheon-ho didn’t know why the two were together, but there were things he had heard while working in the palace after coming to Hanyang.

He thought it was unfair that the Crown Prince didn’t believe him, but perhaps the Crown Prince was the one who sincerely hoped that the events of that day were a false accusation.

The existence of Se-hwa was a kind of shackle for Kim Hwe-yeop, who was leaving.

If he was really moving for Grand Scholar Kim Seon-ik, it meant that he had to find evidence and return for the sake of his daughter.