Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 47

“I’ve heard of them.”

A *chetam-in* was a spy in the Joseon Dynasty who crossed the border to observe the enemy’s movements. In other words, a secret agent, a spy.

The targets were naturally countries bordering each other, mainly the Jurchens or the Japanese?

‘Ah, weren’t they Jurchens here?’

The Crown Prince frowned, seemingly surprised by my answer.

“Where did you hear such things?”

“I don’t know.”

Where else would I hear it but from historical dramas?

It was a historical drama where the protagonist started as a *Damo* [female police officer] in *Jeonokseo* [prison], became a *chetam-in*, and later became a *oeji-bu* [lawyer].

‘They were created during King Sejong’s reign and were active, but I heard they were disbanded or reduced during King Seongjong’s reign when the Jurchens became quieter. Thanks to that, the Jurchen invasions became more frequent again afterward. I guess they still exist here.’

Anyway, King Seongjong, despite his ministers opposing it because it was difficult for widows to make a living, stubbornly created the law prohibiting widows from remarrying (*gwabu sejae gumnji beop* 寡婦再嫁禁止法), the source of evil customs that tormented countless women for hundreds of years, didn’t just do one thing.

‘I hope he is reincarnated as a woman in Joseon land about 100 times, living as a *gisaeng* [female entertainer], concubine, and widow, experiencing all the pain he created with his own laws, and personally experiencing a life threatened by her husband’s family for wanting to erect a *Yeollyeo Gate* [a memorial gate for virtuous women].’

The posthumous title Seongjong (成宗) is given to kings who completed the legal code and reorganized the system.

Of course, in this world, there was also a king with the same posthumous title, Seongjong (成宗), who completed the *Gyeongguk Daejeon* [Grand Code for Governing the State], but he was a different person, so there was no such evil law.

Although the concept of a woman’s chastity is still a sensitive topic, remarriage is not prohibited.

For reference, King Seongjong also prohibited the sons of concubines from taking the civil service examination, following the law prohibiting widows from remarrying. I don’t know what kind of resentment he had, even though he had many concubines.

Anyway, those who were greatly interested in women’s chastity always had many concubines.

Did the woman he liked become a concubine for another man?

If you want to discriminate against concubines’ children, you should prohibit or penalize having concubines in the first place. What is he doing?

Anyway, what’s important now is not that.

“Then, is that Gyeomsabok retired from being a *chetam-in*?”

“Well, I heard he suffered for years going back and forth across the border. In the past, everyone thought they were dead because they couldn’t return for several years, but I heard there was even a case where he came back alive.”

“Oh, I thought his movements were unusual. He has quite the experience.”

“He must have suffered in harsh lands, so he probably wants to retire from active duty now. I thought he would retire when he came back alive after a few years, but I heard he went back to the border again. It must be time for him to want a stable life.”

“So, he’s a Gyeomsabok. But isn’t Gyeomsabok a *Cheajik* (遞兒職) [a position granted as a favor]? Isn’t there a better place… well, maybe not.”

*Cheajik*, to put it simply, means a non-regular position.

Still, Gyeomsabok has a 7-year term, and it is possible to be promoted to another position, and if you do well, you can go up to the 3rd rank, so it can be said to be a pretty good position.

Of course, you have to pass the exam every year to maintain your position.

Surprisingly, there are quite a few non-regular workers working in the palace. There are even unpaid positions.

“Would they have skimped on money for a *chetam-in* who risked his life to scout the border? Since he wants to retire, they probably kept him as a Gyeomsabok for now.”

“Then why not just let him retire?”

“Isn’t his ability a waste?”

Anyway, powerful people try to use their subordinates until their *Jjolgi* (卒記, a record of evaluation of the deceased left in the Veritable Records. During King Sejong’s reign, hardworking officials had their resignations rejected and had to work until *Jjolgi* was left in the historical records = until they died).

‘I guess that’s how the people live well.’

It’s too much like a black company, though.

And the Crown Prince, one of the most exploited positions in the black company, was munching on the castella I made with a gloomy face.

“Most of those involved in the rebellion have now been arrested, and there will be no more incidents like that day, so rest assured. It’s also time to calm the public sentiment in the capital.”

Those words meant that the *Chupo* (追捕: arrest) was completed, not the *Chuguk* (推鞫: interrogating criminals).

“Your Highness, Crown Prince, you seem to have dark circles under your eyes at such a young age.”

“What can I do? I wake up at dawn and barely fall asleep late at night.”

The Crown Prince’s position is too tough.

“Now that I have become the Crown Prince, I am amazed at how my older brother used to make time to see you and me.”

“…Seongwon Crown Prince must not have been as much of a perfectionist as Your Highness.”

“Where am I a perfectionist?”

“Your personality. And Seongwon brother was born as the *Won-son* (元孫: the eldest grandson of the king), and when His Majesty ascended the throne, he became the *Won-ja* (元子: the eldest son of the king), and he was already the Crown Prince when he was learning to walk. The amount he has learned since childhood is different, so it’s natural.”

“That’s, that’s true.”

He’s out of it. He can’t help but be.

“Besides, I think you’re forgetting, but brother is still fourteen years old, and the older brother in our memory is twenty years old.”

“Yes. It’s not right to compare. But I can’t help but keep thinking about it.”

The Crown Prince, who had been eating castella non-stop, darkened his face again, thinking about something.

“If my brother were alive… the rebellion might not have happened.”

“Whoever was going to do it would have done it.”

“Siaa.”

The Crown Prince smiled and called my name at my blunt reply. Seongwon Crown Prince used to do that when he talked to me.

“Don’t think useless thoughts and take care of your health. What are they going to do if they don’t like that the only legitimate son of His Majesty became the Crown Prince? Do you think they would like someone who tries to poison their half-siblings? They’re crazy.”

“…Your words are always clear, which is good.”

While comforting the discouraged Crown Prince and thinking of Seongwon Crown Prince, I was thinking something else.

‘I think I should go look for it at least once.’

Secretly from others.

***

Of course, all my close aides resisted.

“Oh, Princess. Where are you going again at a time like this?”

“To find my ring. I’m going to go near Namdaemun at least once.”

“That’s……”

It wasn’t that I didn’t know it would already be too late, but I had to go at least once.

Gai and Songbi were embarrassed by my words and wanted to stop me somehow.

It would be strange if the only princess in the palace was not seen from broad daylight, unless there were many royals in the palace, but recently I had hardly left my residence.

His Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the Queen had all called me once to check on my condition, so they wouldn’t look for me for a while.

“His Majesty and the Crown Prince are busy, so they won’t look for me.”

“The Queen may look for you.”

“I saw her this morning, right? The atmosphere in the palace is so bad, she wouldn’t bother looking for me again.”

The Queen didn’t call me often unless there was an official event or she wanted to give me something. You could say that we were both comfortable with the appropriate distance now.

Other than that, she would call me with the Crown Prince.

But there was no possibility of that now.

At times like this, the Queen tends to be even quieter.

She has become more cautious than before since her son became the Crown Prince.

‘Well, I don’t have any maternal relatives.’

The *Jongchin* (relatives of the royal family) sometimes act friendly to me, but the King is not very friendly to the *Jongchin* either.

‘Once a rebellion breaks out, the closer the *Jongchin*, the more they have to be careful.’

Everyone is holding their breath right now, so they won’t come to me and stir up trouble.

“But, Princess.”

“I lost the ring that Seongwon Crown Prince gave me.”

When I started to sob, Gai and Songbi’s pupils began to shake.

“…You have to come back quickly.”

“Yeah.”

I could see Gai and Songbi gritting their teeth, but I pretended not to notice.

Today’s escape, no, departure route from the palace was similar to last time.

Unlike last time when I cooperated with the Crown Prince, this time I was moving secretly from the Crown Prince, so fewer people were moving than before.

Anyway, it’s not difficult to get out appropriately because it’s my discretion to allow my palace servants to go outside the palace.

As long as I don’t get caught by annoying people.

But originally, unwanted things always happen.

“Princess?”

There were not many people who could recognize me as a princess just by looking at my face outside the palace yet.

But why is that happening?

‘Let’s pretend I don’t know. They’ll think they saw wrong.’

I urged Songbi to quickly leave the palace gate, pretending not to hear the voice in my memory.

But the feet of the former *chetam-in*, current Gyeomsabok, were naturally faster than us.

“Where are you going?”

“You surprised me.”

The big man blocking my way the moment I was relieved to have escaped the palace had quite a presence.

“Is it okay for you to come out like this without working?”

“Isn’t it a bigger deal that the Princess is out than I’m not working…….”

“Shh.”

When I gave him a look, Gyeom Sabok Seong also changed his title, paying attention to the surroundings for the time being.

Ugh. It hurts my neck to look up at him from close range.

“Isn’t it a bigger deal that the young lady is out?”

“Oh, Gyeom Sabok Seongyun… right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Your impression is a bit… very different?”

The voice is someone I know, but the face is unfamiliar?

The Gyeom Sabok Seongyun I know was an old man with a beard, but the one in front of me looks like he’s in his early to mid-30s?

Of course, in this era, someone in their 30s is also an old man.

Songbi hugged me and stepped back warily, and the man presumed to be Gyeom Sabok Seong was flustered and groped around his chin.

“Ah. I shaved my beard… so you might see it that way.”

No way! He looks 10 years younger!!

‘Beards are so harmful.’

Shaving his beard turned him from an old man into a dangerous handsome man with some scars on his face. Maybe it’s because of the scars, but he had some intimidation, but he didn’t look so threatening because his appearance wasn’t bad.

Well, Gyeomsabok is a job that looks at appearance.

It’s a big mistake to think that lookism only exists in modern times.

“Are you okay, young lady?”

“I’m fine. Songbi, this is the Gyeomsabok who saved me from Saboksi last time.”

“Ah, you’re the one who saved the Princess then.”

Songbi didn’t accompany me at that time, but she had heard about it, so she had a bright face.

I guess she thought he was a dangerous person because he wasn’t wearing a Gyeomsabok uniform today.

He must be off work if he’s not wearing a Gyeomsabok uniform. I don’t know why he was here, but it wasn’t a bad thing that I met him because I had something to say too. It’s just that the time and place weren’t good.

I grabbed Seongyun’s sleeve and apologized for what happened then.

“About the beard, I’m sorry. It must have hurt a lot.”

“If I could exchange my beard for the young lady’s safety, wouldn’t that be the greatest honor?”

Seongyun knelt on one knee in front of me, so I could see his face even better.

I didn’t know it before, but when I looked at him up close, he had a very tired face, apart from beauty.

“I couldn’t exchange it for a beard……”

“The young lady was out of her mind at the time. Thanks to you, I’m also hearing that I look younger.”

“Hmm. If that’s the case, that’s a relief.”

I’m not sure if I should say this is a relief, but I decided to move on for now because he said he was okay.

I looked at Songbi and whispered to Seongyun.

“You were a *chetam-in*, right?”

“Th-that’s right. Young lady.”

“Then were you in a foreign country? Ah, should I not say it?”

“Yes. Young lady.”

Oh, his face says, ‘Which bastard told a kid that?’

‘If I say the Crown Prince told me, will the evaluation of the Crown Prince go down?’

The Crown Prince is innocent.

He doesn’t seem to be aware of it, but since ‘that day’, the Crown Prince hasn’t been able to refuse my requests.

Poor thing.

“Aren’t you afraid of me, young lady?”

“Why should I be afraid of you when you saved me?”