Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 302

I let Eunuch Song’s delay in answering pass without comment.

Since they were still at it, Eunuch Song, who had been watching even more intently than I had, must have been feeling utterly wretched.

That being said, I started by quietly asking about what I didn’t understand.

“But why are they doing that?”

Fortunately, no one else seemed to be paying attention, as everyone except Eunuch Song and his close aides were standing further away. Still, I was a little worried about the Crown Prince’s image.

I was also a little concerned that the court ladies, who were obligated to witness their master’s romantic escapades, might become disillusioned with their duties. I also felt sorry for the Crown Prince, who had so little freedom in his personal life, and even more sorry for Se-hwa, who was dating him.

‘Well, that’s the life of a royal.’

It was a place where you couldn’t help but feel suffocated under the constant scrutiny.

I’m not in such an important position, and I’ll be escaping soon anyway.

While I was thinking this, Eunuch Song unexpectedly spoke up.

“Actually, the Ongju [royal daughter] bears some responsibility for this as well.”

“No, why me?”

“I hesitate to say it, but since the Crown Prince was young, he has been… freely touching the Ongju’s fair face.”

“Ah, my cheeks?”

I tapped my still soft and bouncy cheeks as I asked, and Eunuch Song nodded.

“Now that the Ongju has grown up, he can’t do that anymore, so it seems the Crown Prince is very disappointed.”

“Hmm.”

Originally, it was a habit I should have discouraged years ago as I matured, but because I had the appearance of a child, neither I, the Crown Prince, nor the people around us paid much attention to it.

Then, as I suddenly grew up, the Crown Prince must have realized that he shouldn’t do that anymore.

“It seems they were discussing that during their conversation with Physician Se-hwa, and then they started doing that at some point.”

“Ah…”

Hearing that, I think I understand the situation roughly.

When the Crown Prince grumbled, Se-hwa must have jokingly asked, ‘Would you like to touch my cheeks instead?’ and the Crown Prince, while saying something like, ‘How can I touch a woman’s face?’ must have been inwardly tempted, and that’s why they were being so affectionate.

And Eunuch Song and the court ladies, sensing the situation, quickly moved away.

‘Ugh, I really can’t stand this terrible workplace anymore.’

I would have quit already.

Everyone except Eunuch Song, who has a wife waiting for him at home (eunuchs in the Joseon Dynasty could marry and adopt children), are forced to live a solo life, and they have to forcibly watch others being lovey-dovey outside in the middle of winter or summer.

I looked at the Donggung Palace [Crown Prince’s residence] court ladies with pity and then turned my gaze back to the Crown Prince.

I’m sorry that they’re having a good time, but this was a major issue that required even newlyweds who needed to produce an heir as soon as possible to be separated for a while.

Treason, treason.

“Unfortunately, I also came to talk to you, Brother, so I’ll have to interrupt.”

“I will inform him.”

“No, I’ll just go myself.”

It’s better for me to play the role of the resented one.

The Crown Prince has a sulky side, so he might grumble about it to Eunuch Song later.

‘Well, he might not have the余裕 [leeway/composure], but.’

I didn’t bother to get close and just shouted from afar.

“Brother!”

“!”

Fortunately, the Crown Prince heard my voice, startled, and headed straight this way.

Se-hwa also followed behind him with a slightly embarrassed face.

Come to think of it, did he end up touching her face or not?

“Si-ah, what brings you here at this hour? I haven’t been overdoing it lately, and it’s not time for acupuncture yet.”

Having experienced things, excuses automatically poured out of the Crown Prince’s mouth.

Come to think of it, I hardly ever come to Donggung Palace at this hour except for the things the Crown Prince mentioned.

After Se-hwa came and I grew up… I don’t think I ever did.

It’s not like I suddenly became distant because I grew up; I was just too sleepy and busy.

I also deliberately refrained from letting them play together.

‘It’s a pity that there were no gains considering how much I cared.’

It was unfortunate.

As I didn’t answer, the situation seemed to be escalating in the Crown Prince’s mind, and his voice became a little serious.

“Or did you perhaps cause an accident…?”

No. You idiot.

Where are you going with this just because I’m a little late to answer?

“I’m sorry to interrupt your good time, but I have something important to tell the Crown Prince.”

“Ahem.”

I didn’t want to interrupt if I could help it.

“I found out the result of one of the things I told you about last time.”

“!”

Realizing that it was a serious matter, the Crown Prince immediately changed his expression and nodded.

Although it was still cold, we decided to talk outside so that no one else could hear.

To prevent anyone other than me and the Crown Prince from hearing, we sent everyone away, including Eunuch Song, as well as Se-hwa and Cheon-ho, and started talking.

“Actually, I went outside the capital today for other business…”

“You went outside the capital?”

“That’s not important right now.”

Seeing signs that he was about to start nagging, I cut to the chase and said the main point.

“I witnessed suspicious guys doing military training in the mountains.”

“What, you saw it yourself?”

“Yes. With these two eyes.”

The Crown Prince’s face hardened at my words. It was a serious matter.

“No, that’s dangerous… are you okay?”

“Yeah. For now. Thanks to Cheon-ho.”

As soon as the Crown Prince heard my words, he spun me around and examined me, and only after confirming that I was not injured did he let out a sigh of relief and start nagging.

“Cheon-ho saved you again. But why did you do such a dangerous thing? What if you got hurt?”

“I didn’t know it was that kind of thing. I was also surprised to find it by chance.”

“Why did you go outside the capital?”

“That’s… I went to meet the former Crown Prince’s guards. I was also thinking about Crown Prince Seong-won.”

“Hmm.”

The Crown Prince seemed convinced by my words and didn’t pursue it any further.

I felt complicated looking at him.

Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to say that I met Crown Prince Seong-won.

Even though treason was treason, wouldn’t he be shocked to know that the dead Crown Prince was actually alive?

Thinking that far, I suddenly had this thought.

‘…Does he perhaps know too?’

No way.

Of course, it was something that he couldn’t easily say even if he knew.

“The guards. If the close aides of Crown Prince Seong-won are those whose path to success was blocked by the death of their master, then it’s not so strange to think that they are involved in treason.”

“Really?”

“Yes. There are many people among them who are dissatisfied with me. Besides, I’ve never really gotten along with the people on Crown Prince Seong-won’s side.”

I had heard about it too. I tried not to get too involved, but I still heard things.

“I tried to treat them well, thinking of my brother. But I can’t keep catering to them.”

“That’s right.”

Even if he showed courtesy, there was bound to be discord if their paths were not the same.

“Most of them have been gradually pushed back since my brother’s death. Besides, unlike my brother, there’s no reason for me to unconditionally listen to them, as we don’t get along anyway.”

“Hmm.”

According to the Crown Prince, there were still those who had built up power when Crown Prince Seong-won was alive, so they were still messing around.

The Crown Prince sighed, saying that it might be his fault for treating them moderately, thinking of Crown Prince Seong-won.

I heard that they were cut in half during the Gyeong-eon-gun affair, but because there were people left behind thinking of Crown Prince Seong-won, they were quite arrogant when the current Crown Prince had little power.

“But no one messes with me.”

“Who would pick a fight with someone who doesn’t even listen to the royal relatives?”

“No, I’m a gentle person to other royal relatives who don’t bother me.”

“Yes, yes. That’s right… probably.”

Saying that, the Crown Prince smiled slyly.

He’s copying me.

“Anyway, now I’ve made my own people, and there are not a few people in the political world who can be called other forces, so it can’t be the same as before. Crown Prince Seong-won, they must be thinking that they would have enjoyed wealth and glory in the shadow of the Crown Prince if their master had been alive, so they must be frustrated.”

I heard that they managed to escape the previous Yeongcheon-gun treason case.

“I didn’t pay much attention, but Crown Prince Seong-won’s side was not very impressive.”

“You don’t have many opportunities to see them. It’s a long-standing prestigious family, but it suffered a fatal blow from the Gyeong-eon-gun affair.”

“Hmm.”

“Still, they’ve been opposing my work quite a bit, so it’s been a bit of a headache. I thought they had calmed down recently, but there was another reason.”

“Brother.”

When I patted the Crown Prince’s arm, who looked particularly tired, he smiled a little self-deprecatingly.

“If my brother were in this position instead of me, this wouldn’t have happened, and they would have followed him obediently.”

It’s been several years since he became the Crown Prince, but Crown Prince Seong-won’s shadow still seemed to loom over him.

Looking at him, I couldn’t bring myself to talk about Crown Prince Seong-won.

I still don’t really believe it, but if Crown Prince Seong-won raises a rebellion to seize power…

‘The current Crown Prince will be deposed from the position of Crown Prince.’

Crown Prince Seong-won probably doesn’t intend to kill his younger brothers either.

Of course, he could kill them if he wanted to, but perhaps he could really make the Crown Prince comfortable.

Even if he plots a rebellion, I want to believe that he won’t harm his brothers at least.

Wasn’t he someone who cherished his younger brother so much?

No matter how much time has passed, he wouldn’t have changed that much.