Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 54

A drizzle fell from the dark sky.

“It’s raining…”

“Because it’s almost the rainy season.”

“What about the kids living under the bridge?”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I doubted Gai, who hadn’t accompanied me outside the palace, would understand what I meant.

‘Court ladies in the Royal Secretary Office are considered to have a decent status.’

They attended the royal family closely, with a high chance of encountering the King or Crown Prince and becoming a royal concubine.

In other words, they were like the highest-ranking office workers among the court ladies.

Perhaps that’s why Gai seemed more indifferent to the beggar children I’d met outside compared to Song Bi.

‘On the other hand, it’s not a bad thing that she’s only focused on me.’

However, it was difficult to bring up the beggar children again to either Song Bi or Gai. Neither of them wanted me to care so deeply about such things.

I also wanted to avoid worrying about it, but I couldn’t help but care.

‘They’re living under the Cheonggyecheon bridge in tents. What happens when the water level rises during the rainy season?’

Just so you know, the Cheonggyecheon [a stream in Seoul] in this era is completely different from the Cheonggyecheon in modern Seoul, so it’s difficult to imagine that small, artificial stream.

However, the water level would rise when heavy rain poured during the rainy season.

Spring and early summer would be better, but how do they live through the rainy season and harsh winter?

‘Their health is an immediate concern, and what if diseases spread from such places? Will the capital be okay?’

As I stared blankly at the endless rain, I called Gai, who was organizing the ledger next to me.

“Gai, how is the money from my palace treasury being used?”

“Pardon?”

I explained my intentions to Gai, who was puzzled by my sudden words.

“The beggar children?”

“Yes. Would it be difficult to provide them with shelter from the rain and wind?”

I don’t even have my own private residence yet.

‘It would be nice if I could ask for help from someone among the royal relatives, but if I create debts unnecessarily, I don’t know what kind of favors I’ll be asked later.’

Besides, the treason case was still being sorted out, so the royal relatives had to be extremely careful for a while. They wouldn’t want to stand out, especially not with something that would earn them praise from the people like this.

“The Ongju’s [a princess’s] private wealth is not small, but it’s not enough to spend without limits.”

“They’re children, but they can gather wood from the mountains. If taught, they can weave straw shoes.”

In fact, not all beggars are children, and job creation is needed.

‘But it’s not like I can implement a New Deal policy.’

First of all, it was a priority to check if the children were safe.

“I want to at least check if they’re doing well.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Ah, I’m not going out. I said I’m not going out.”

“Please don’t forget how precious you are, Ongju.”

Gai, as well as the other court ladies, spoke so earnestly that I had no choice but to nod.

As a substitute, though it’s not much, I decided to compromise by calling Sung-yoon, the Kyeomsabok [a military officer].

I felt a bit bad for asking so many things, but perhaps because of his profession, he was well-informed and trustworthy.

‘By the way, was I that precious?’

I’ve been rolling around in my room because I didn’t want to go outside in the rain, and I felt like I’ve become a bit of a hikki-NEET [a shut-in].

Reaching that thought, I jumped up.

“Ongju?”

“I can’t do this. Let’s make something to eat.”

“Yes!”

Everyone’s faces brightened as I took the lead in making snacks.

If our palace maids gain weight, it’s not because of me, but because of the hot and humid weather that makes them eat everything we make.

‘Since I’m calling Sung Kyeomsabok, I should at least give him something to eat.’

No matter what, I can’t shamelessly make someone work on an empty stomach.

***

Unlike my peaceful days, the world was turning more fiercely.

Among the leaders of the treason, some were executed, and many rumors about them were heard.

Among them, the most talked about was, of course, Lord Kim Sun-ik.

The fact that Lord Kim Sun-ik’s daughter was nominated as a candidate for the Crown Princess had already spread widely in the capital.

Well, considering the Crown Prince’s age and the sudden summoning of Lord Kim Sun-ik’s daughter to the palace, those with some sense could have guessed to some extent.

‘The King would have investigated families with daughters of suitable age and chosen Lord Kim Sun-ik from among them.’

And as a final step, he would have brought her to the Junggungjeon [the Queen’s residence] to see what kind of person the Crown Princess would be.

‘It seems like the Junggungjeon also liked Ji-hwa, but things turned out this way.’

The ladies of the Junggungjeon were tight-lipped, but when I asked them about my future sister-in-law with an excited face, they all had subtle smiles.

That meant that their superior, the Queen, was in a good mood.

Of course, knowing that she was involved in treason now would be the worst.

Becoming the Crown Prince’s father-in-law was as good as a guaranteed success, but when it became known that Lord Kim Sun-ik had participated in treason, naturally bad rumors spread.

It was a malicious rumor that the Crown Prince must be so incompetent that he participated in treason to reject the position of Crown Princess.

Even though there were many who avoided him because of the tiger rumor, and now such rumors were spreading, the atmosphere was not good. It was revealed that what happened inside the palace at that time was the work of Royal Concubine Hong, but the fact that the Crown Prince suffered a tiger attack did not disappear.

‘If they’re dissatisfied, they should argue with the King. Wasn’t it originally the case that tigers were avoided because they were said to visit families who had suffered a tiger attack?’

Besides, that includes me too.

In fact, I heard that there were cases where court ladies blindly believed in such superstitions and trembled, and were dragged away by the fearsome surveillance court ladies. The Queen was also not standing idly by in this matter, as it was not someone else’s problem.

I asked Song Bi, who had brought me various rumors.

“Who did they say the rebels were trying to enthrone?”

“It’s Grand Prince Bokwon.”

I heard that he was a royal relative about five or six degrees removed from me, but I didn’t remember him very well. There were quite a few relatives.

‘There’s a possibility that he was caught up in it without luck…’

In the case of royal relatives, there were cases where they lost their lives because they had never even met the rebels, let alone received a single letter, but were forcibly enthroned by them without knowing it.

In fact, the most surprising thing was that Grand Prince Gyeong-eon, who was in the best position to be enthroned, was not involved in this treason.

There was even a heartwarming behind-the-scenes story.

“The rebels secretly contacted Grand Prince Gyeong-eon, no, the deposed Lee Soo, who was under house arrest?”

“That is correct. He even helped them get caught.”

Since Gyeong-eon is now deposed, he is not called Grand Prince Gyeong-eon (君) [a royal title].

His name is Lee Soo, so I roughly call him that, but since there’s not much to talk about him, I’m still more familiar with the title of Grand Prince Gyeong-eon.

“It is said that the deposed Lee Soo received money and told the soldiers who helped the rebels contact him that he would think about it positively, and after sending them back, he informed the other soldiers who had replaced them of the fact, and then captured the rebels who had contacted him at that time.”

“Hee.”

“Even though he was abandoned by His Majesty, he is still His Majesty’s son and subject, so he scolded the rebels, saying how could he participate in treason. There are many voices praising him.”

The treason was discovered before the news reached Hanyang [old name for Seoul], but the story of Gyeong-eon’s good deeds was already widely spread.

It is said that there is much praise for the dignity of the prince.

Of course, the palace people who had experienced Gyeong-eon’s personality had ambiguous faces.

I was the same.

The people did not know the process by which Lee Soo became deposed, but there was a reason for it.

“Hmph. So, it’s not the son’s fault that he poisoned me, but the mother’s fault. How can it be a sin that he was too young to know that his mother was committing a crime?”

“Ongju.”

“No, what can I do? Everyone, don’t worry too much. His Majesty will not easily lift the house arrest.”

The palace people seemed worried that I would cause an accident, but there was nothing I could do when it came to the affairs of the court.

Besides, he was a mortal enemy to me, but he was still the King’s own son to the King.

Unless the ministers rose up like a swarm of bees and demanded his death. Killing him directly still had risks. Public opinion would also worsen.

But as time went on, I couldn’t help but think it was strange.

A few days later, Gai, who brought my tea table, brought up the topic again.

“Recently, rumors about this incident have been spreading widely among the people.”

“Is the atmosphere still the same?”

“Yes, some are even saying that His Majesty’s actions are excessive.”

“It’s one thing for words to come out of the court, but words are also spreading in the marketplace.”

That’s strange.

I tapped the four-sided pillow (四方枕) [a square pillow] I was leaning on with my finger.

I heard that Gyeong-eon, no, the deposed Lee Soo, was under house arrest in Jeolla-do [a province in Korea].

The distance to the capital was by no means short, but there was no way the rumors could spread so quickly to the capital.

Moreover, it was so detailed and directional.

He wasn’t even well-regarded when he was in the palace, but if you only heard the rumors, wouldn’t he seem like the most loyal subject and filial son in the world? Those who had actually experienced him wouldn’t say such things.

‘Is someone drawing a big picture here?’

Recently, public opinion about that bad guy has improved really drastically.

I even heard that some ministers are saying that the last disposition was excessive.

The logic was that the incident that happened during the funeral of Crown Prince Seongwon was solely the work of Royal Concubine Hong, and not the fault of her still young son.

“I’m not in a position or age to be involved in politics, but I can’t stand to see that guy living comfortably again.”

“Ongju. Please put your mind at ease. How could such an outrageous thing happen?”

“No. Originally, you get backstabbed when you’re off guard, thinking, ‘How could such a thing happen?'”

‘What if’ catches people off guard. Originally, you shouldn’t discuss world affairs only with common sense.

Besides, if the other side is deliberately distorting public opinion, it would be infuriating from my perspective as the victim. Above all, I know that he really tried to poison me, so how can I just let it go?

‘But I can’t reveal that I ate the dried persimmon even though I knew that fact.’

That’s not something a child would do, so the truth would be doubted.

At that time, it was already concluded that it was the work of Royal Concubine Hong. Everyone trusted Royal Concubine Hong’s confession more than the testimony of a lowly court lady that it was Gyeong-eon’s instruction.

A way to change public opinion.

“…Should I spread rumors too?”

“Pardon?”

Gai looked puzzled at my words.

“The people in the palace know better what kind of person Lee Soo is. What happened too.”

“Ongju.”

“I still remember. That he threw me into the pond.”

“!!”

Gai’s face stiffened as if she was embarrassed.

That’s understandable. It was a long time ago.

Besides, I hadn’t shown any reaction of avoiding the pond or disliking water since then.

Everyone thought I had forgotten, so they were avoiding detailed mentions of the matter, and I also knew that the people around me were worried, so I hadn’t shown it at all.

But if it’s such a shocking thing, it wouldn’t be strange to remember it, even if it was a very young age.

“Besides, he abused animals and scattered them around whenever he was bored, right? Many people should know about this.”

“That’s.”

Royal Concubine and Prince-gun [a prince’s title] who lost favor and were confined.

In order to prevent them from seeing it that way, they were telling the facts like ghost stories to the newly entering court ladies.

It seems that the rumors have not spread so much because everyone is strictly educated to keep their mouths shut.

‘It’s better for the Crown Prince not to be involved in the public opinion war. He might be accused of trying to kill his brother to protect his position.’

The fact that Lee Soo, that trashy bastard, abused the current Crown Prince, who was his younger brother when he was Prince-gun, is not good for the Crown Prince’s image, so it seems better to hide it as it is.

It was common in any era to find fault with the victim. Besides, the era is the era, and the Crown Prince’s position is the position, so it was necessary to avoid giving a weak impression.

“But palace people alone are a bit weak.”

Suddenly, Sung-yoon Kyeomsabok came to mind, but it was something to think about a little more about how much I could trust that person.

While I was having such concerns.

Footsteps deliberately made outside the door were heard, and soon a familiar voice told me the business.

“Ongju. Court Lady Moon of the Donggung residence [the Crown Prince’s residence] has come to see you about His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“What’s the matter?”

“She wants to tell Ongju directly. What should I do?”

It was a familiar thing for the Donggung palace people to look for me when the Crown Prince was acting up or was so nervous that he was skipping meals. But in such cases, they usually conveyed the message to me through a court lady, not directly.

So today, it meant that there was something more important and urgent.