Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 58

I was born as the daughter of a low-ranking concubine. (58)

“I did it…!”

“Did we really… succeed?”

Song-bi and I stood before a steaming, light brown, fluffy cube, clasping hands in elation.

There were some slightly burnt parts, but it wasn’t inedible. When we cut it in half, the white inside was revealed. It lacked the rich flavor I remembered because we didn’t add butter, but the fluffy texture clearly indicated the food I remembered.

Song-bi, who had experienced several failures, asked, deeply moved.

“What shall we name this?”

“……Let’s call it ‘sikppang’ [식빵, Korean word for bread].”

“What does it mean?”

“……It’s just something to eat, so let’s call it ‘sikppang’.”

“Yes, Princess.”

I knew what Song-bi was thinking as she giggled at me, but I couldn’t help it.

Naming things is such a pain!

Actually, I hadn’t really thought about bread other than castella because I didn’t know how to get yeast. But the day before yesterday, I was thinking about makgeolli [Korean rice wine] with pajeon [Korean savory pancake with green onions] and it occurred to me.

That makgeolli has yeast, making it possible to bake bread.

The only problem was that it had been so long that I forgot that kneading… was too hard and not worth doing.

Of course, I didn’t do the kneading myself, since I’m weak!

Song-bi said it was manageable, though!

‘I’m glad Song-bi is full of energy.’

In the case of new foods, Song-bi and I mainly work together to maintain security and reduce failures.

Thanks to this, Song-bi suffers a lot, but she seems to enjoy it, perhaps because she originally came from the Saenggwabang [生果房, the royal kitchen for desserts and fruits].

There were some vague parts in my memory regarding ratios and fermentation, so we failed a few times, but we were getting something edible. Especially this time, it looked very complete to my eyes.

“It’s delicious to eat it just like this, Princess.”

“Of course, it’s best to eat it warm. We don’t know what will happen when it cools down, so let’s take this and share it first.”

“Yes.”

There seemed to be various talks inside and outside the palace about the dried persimmons and castella I sent, but frankly, I had already done everything I could on my end.

Judging it wasn’t my job.

‘If that bastard Lee Soo comes back alive, should I send him dried persimmons with laxatives first?’

I have no way to get poison.

Ah, marinated crab and soft persimmons would be good too. Depending on the person, it is said to make you feel like your insides are twisting.

Such unproductive thoughts often cluttered my mind.

But since it’s not good for my mental health, I decided to put aside the complicated affairs of the world and focus on creating new things.

That’s how this bread came about.

“I’ve heard of steaming grain flour kneaded with makgeolli, but it tastes different when eaten like this.”

“The principle of rising will be similar. Makgeolli is made from rice, so in a way, it’s a luxurious dish.”

“It’ll be fine as long as it’s not during the alcohol prohibition (禁酒令) [Geumjulyeong, a historical alcohol ban in Korea], right?”

“Right. Let’s spread the strawberry jam we made before on this.”

I made something similar to strawberry jam in advance to spread on it.

‘It would be nice to have butter…….’

I heard that butter was made and eaten during the Goryeo Dynasty, but it was banned during the Joseon Dynasty because it was too luxurious.

They save milk, saying it’s taking away from the calves, which makes sense according to that logic, but it’s a bit of a waste. I can’t eat buttered clams…….

‘The northern nomads might make it. Cheese too.’

It’s not a good time to beg them to make it for me.

Anyway, it’s difficult for ordinary people like me to make. The only thing I can make is ricotta cheese? But again, there’s a lot of wasted milk, so it’s a waste.

‘I might be able to make ice cream later…….’

If I make it in the middle of winter, at least I won’t be told that I’m wasting ice. I’ll be told I’m being extravagant, though.

Anyway, the bread that Song-bi and I made was evenly distributed to the court ladies in our residence who were eagerly waiting outside.

Seeing them waiting for us with sparkling eyes made me feel like a mother bird bringing food.

“It’s so, so delicious, Princess.”

“But I liked the one you said failed yesterday because it was crispy.”

“I liked the one you dipped in egg and fried in oil because it was moist.”

“Hmm…….”

Two maids are revealing their preferred directions as if competing.

Yes, I know your tastes are completely opposite.

One was too cooked and crispy, and the other was undercooked, so we dipped it in egg and made French toast, and both had good reactions.

But the important thing is the taste of the higher-ups.

The Queen Consort liked it, but the Queen Dowager also preferred sweet and soft foods.

‘Now that I’ve succeeded in making bread, I should take it to the Queen Consort’s palace and the Queen Dowager’s residence.’

Since there was something I had already done, I needed to go directly and get sympathy, even if it was a post-report.

Actually, I’m not too worried about the Queen Consort, but I’m a little worried about the Queen Dowager.

‘Sigh, should I go prepared to be scolded?’

The Queen Dowager had always been sympathetic to Lee Soo being demoted and confined.

She didn’t hesitate to show such a side in front of me and subtly forced me to agree with her, but I had been ignoring it all along.

Since I actively prevented Lee Soo’s reinstatement this time, she will definitely not just pass over it without saying anything.

‘Originally, she pushed Royal Concubine Hong as the Queen Consort, but this happened……. She may be unable to bear the fact that her judgment was wrong.’

Fortunately, she did not oppose demoting Hong and her son, but it was the Queen Dowager who protected Grand Prince Gyeong-eon until the end, I heard.

Since the circumstances of cursing the deceased Crown Prince Seong-won were clear, she was criticizing Royal Concubine Hong, but she seemed to think that Grand Prince Gyeong-eon was unfairly framed because of his mother. Perhaps she didn’t really think so, but she must have cared a lot for Grand Prince Gyeong-eon.

When I went to greet her, she often pitied me and vaguely asked for my sympathy, asking how scared and tormented Grand Prince Gyeong-eon must be.

‘Maybe she wanted me to ask the King to forgive Grand Prince Gyeong-eon instead. Surely she’s not that shameless… is there a possibility?’

Fortunately, the Queen Consort said she would not receive greetings, and the Queen Dowager also told me that I didn’t need to visit her often, so I didn’t see her often and only sent people to greet her, but it seemed to be okay until yesterday.

I’m just worried because the atmosphere these days is unusual.

‘If I don’t treat her properly here, I don’t know how she’ll act later.’

The Queen Dowager was old, so she liked soft foods.

She liked the pudding and castella I made, so this wouldn’t be bad either.

“It would be better to make new ones to take to the Queen Dowager tomorrow, right? I should prepare the dough in advance.”

As Song-bi nodded at my words, she also dissuaded me.

“Now, you don’t have to be with me, Princess. I can do it.”

“Yeah. But sincerity is important.”

If I’m going to show off, I have to do it properly, right?

Anyway, I’ve been feeling restless these days, so I can’t sleep well, so I felt more comfortable doing something.

I wanted to move my body, but everyone said I had to maintain decorum even if I did a little intense exercise (running), so I wanted to move my body like this.

I can only sleep well if my body is tired. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll sleep well.

***

And the next morning.

I got up early and baked bread, and fortunately, I carefully selected the best-looking ones from the successful batches, plated them, and visited the Queen Dowager’s residence. I thought it would be better to have something soft rather than crispy, so I prepared warm bread as well as moist French toast.

Of course, it was a visit after informing them in advance.

But to put it bluntly, I was turned away at the door.

“The Queen Dowager says she doesn’t want to meet anyone right now.”

When I glanced, I could see a few pairs of shoes under the stepping stone, which clearly meant there were guests inside.

I roughly understood. Someone came and told her about me first.

After Young-bin and Grand Prince Gyeong-eon fell from grace and the Queen Consort was decided, the Queen Dowager moved to a somewhat distant building that the previous Grand Queen Dowager had used, as if she would not interfere in the affairs of the inner court.

Most of the court ladies who served her closely were old, so they were always in the dark about rumors, so I was a little relaxed, but someone came and told her the rumors while I was off guard. It must be a member of the royal family.

“Then can’t I at least deliver the snacks I brought?”

“What’s all the commotion?”

“Grandmama.”

I quickly lowered my head when I saw the Queen Dowager suddenly coming out from inside.

“Did you come to this old woman to kill my grandson, Princess?”

“What are you saying, Grandmama?”

“Grandmama? I don’t have a granddaughter who is so eager to kill her own brother and commit such an atrocity!”

With that cry, the energetic grandmother overturned the tray that Song-bi, who was standing behind me, was holding.

Thanks to this, the bread and French toast that I had worked so hard to bake fell to the dirt floor with a savory smell.

‘Ah, what a waste.’

I worked hard to make it.

While I was blankly looking at them, the situation escalated a bit more dramatically.

“Queen Dowager, please calm down.”

It was the voices of the royal family members who followed the Queen Dowager. They hid behind the Queen Dowager, who was smaller than them, and only verbally stopped her.

They must have told the Queen Dowager the news, but their voices made it sound like they were worried about me.

“Queen Dowager. Why are you so angry?”

“What?”

“I just wanted to show the Queen Dowager some good food, so I came to see you.”

At my words, the Queen Dowager shouted in anger.

“How can I accept what she made with her hands when the Princess is trying so hard to kill her brother with the paltry snacks she made with her paltry skills!”

When did I try to kill him?

This grandmother is coming on strong. I lowered my gaze and made a tearful expression.

“How could I do such a terrible thing, Grandmama?”

“I don’t want to see you! Immediately apologize to the officials to whom the Princess sent the lunch boxes for doing such an outrageous thing, and try to save Grand Prince Gyeong-eon!”

“Queen Dowager, isn’t that interfering with state affairs?”

“Then are you going to insist that what the Princess did was not interfering with state affairs?”

What’s important now?

Justification (名分) [Myeongbun, justification or legitimacy].

“I merely sent the snacks as a sign of comfort and encouragement to the officials who are working hard to eradicate the rebels and to the wives who were worried about their husbands.”

“Wh, what……?”

“Who on earth slandered me to Grandmama with such terrible lies?”

My eyes, shedding tears, naturally turned to the members of the royal family.

I won’t forget you guys.

And unlike the members of the royal family who avoided my gaze, the Queen Dowager, who had nothing to fear, was still furious. She realized that her argument was less justified than my words, and she became even more angry.

“Are you saying that this old woman is slandering the Princess with unfounded words? How can such a young Princess be so vicious as to try to kill her own brother!”

“How could an ignorant girl do such a terrible thing? Please take back your words.”

“Even if I’m old, I’m not deaf!”

Well, the members of the royal family came and told her everything in detail, so how could she not know? The Queen Dowager continued to scold me with an angry voice.

I’m eight years old. First, I’ll manage my expression and pretend I don’t know.

“Didn’t the Princess send dried persimmons to the officials to intimidate them?”

“How is that intimidation? I don’t know.”

“That, that is…….”

Can you explain to me what that means?

To me, who almost died from eating poisoned dried persimmons?

Before the Queen Dowager, who couldn’t explain it, got angry and turned around, I struck first.

“But I’m glad that Grandmama is so angry with me.”

“Wh, what?”

“When I was a young child who couldn’t even speak, even when Lee Soo, who was demoted, tried to harm me, wouldn’t Grandmama have been so angry for me?”

You didn’t just stand by when I almost died, did you?

You would have been so angry like this, right?

As I wiped away my tears and said that, the surroundings fell silent.

I didn’t expect it, but this reaction is a bit too much.

“Isn’t that right?”
Tears came out naturally along with my voice because I was sad.

“I, I……!! I don’t want to see your face, so get out of my sight right now!”

“Grandmama!!”

Then she went inside.

She is avoiding the situation because she is not confident in winning with words or logic.

So I decided to be stubborn too.

“Song-bi, go get a mat.”

“Yes?”