Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 64

As I entered the thatched-roof house where Court Lady Min lived, she seemed embarrassed by her humble surroundings, unable to meet my gaze. Seeing her discomfort made me feel a pang of sympathy.

I had, in fact, considered bringing those who served my birth mother into my own palace.

‘But there are already so many palace women; it felt wrong to add more.’

The number of people one commands reflects one’s authority, so the number of palace women assigned to me, one of the few royals residing in the palace, was considerable.

Moreover, I hesitated because adding new individuals to an established system could burden the existing staff.

It’s one thing to bring in a novice, but someone of similar or higher rank would disrupt the existing hierarchy.

Currently, Gae and Songbi are the highest-ranking women in my residence, but neither has yet achieved the rank of *Sang Gung* [a senior palace maid]. If Court Lady Min were to join, she would be subordinate to them.

Ideally, I should have a nanny *Sang Gung* and a governess *Sang Gung*, but due to numerous incidents and accidents in my childhood, I developed a deep distrust of people and resisted having new staff assigned to me. Consequently, I lacked a *Sang Gung* in my service.

As a result, Gae and Songbi were effectively acting as *Sang Gung*.

Normally, a new *Sang Gung* would have been assigned when I was appointed a Princess, but I was in critical condition. Even after waking, I remained so frail that everyone expected me to die soon. They likely felt it unwise to assign a stranger to a child who had lost her birth mother, suffered poisoning, and was already weak, so they overlooked it.

Afterward, everyone respected my reluctance to bring new people into my inner circle.

If there were other Princesses, there might have been complaints, but as I was the only one, it wasn’t a significant issue.

Gae and Songbi were promoted relatively quickly because of this, but to ensure fairness with other palace women, the Queen promised to promote them to *Sang Gung* when I marry.

‘The longer I delay marriage, the longer their promotion is delayed, though.’

I feel a bit guilty.

I heard that palace women in the Royal Secretariat [the administrative hub of the palace] earn relatively high incomes, and some *Sang Gung* even invest their earnings. However, Court Lady Min, who served Consort Yun, retired so suddenly and early that she couldn’t afford to buy a separate house.

Consequently, I had to travel to the area where retired palace women lived to meet her. Many palace women enter temples upon retirement, but perhaps because I’m not Buddhist, or for some other reason, I hadn’t considered that option.

I made small talk for a while before gently steering the conversation to my purpose.

“I came because I need someone’s help, so please don’t be too nervous.”

“I’m not sure what you mean by needing me.”

“Perhaps Court Lady Min has already guessed to some extent… It’s not work within the palace walls, but I have a matter I’d like your assistance with. Of course, it’s not dangerous, and you’re free to decline if you wish.”

Court Lady Min responded cautiously to my words.

“I’m still unclear on what you’re referring to. Are you perhaps speaking of the shelter the Princess recently established for beggar children?”

Hmm. She’s heard the rumors. As expected of someone from the Royal Secretariat, she’s quick-witted.

“That’s correct. It’s not enough to simply feed and house them. I want to provide them with a proper education.”

“But Princess, aren’t they children of low birth and, likely, base character?”

“Hmm. It’s true that those in the Royal Secretariat are considered to have good standing, but weren’t many palace women originally from government slave backgrounds? Yet, everyone works harmoniously in the palace because they’ve been educated here since childhood. Isn’t that so?”

“That is…”

When Court Lady Min displayed an ambiguous attitude, I decided to press further.

“Or was Court Lady Min perhaps thinking that way about Consort Yun as well?”

“Oh, no! Princess, how could I dare harbor such presumptuous thoughts?”

Court Lady Min was startled and immediately denied it.

Consort Yun, my birth mother, came from the Royal Kitchen.

‘I heard that departments involving strenuous labor don’t have very high status.’

Similarly, Songbi, also from the Royal Kitchen, seemed to have struggled when she was assigned to the Royal Secretariat through nepotism and had much to learn. Thinking about it now, she must have faced mockery, but perhaps my favor with the King shielded her?

Come to think of it, she seems to be relieving stress by kneading baking dough lately.

“I understand that palace women in the Royal Secretariat must study more than those in other departments. Isn’t it a waste? You never know when the palace might recall you, and it’s a waste to wait here endlessly.”

“…”

“If Court Lady Min is unwilling, there’s nothing I can do. Please consider it. Oh, of course, I’m not suggesting you work without compensation.”

“!”

At that moment, Court Lady Min’s eyes lit up.

No way. Did she think I intended to exploit her labor?

Well, more people work without pay in the palace than one might imagine…

The higher-ups often assume subordinates should work for them as a matter of course.

I smiled and added,

“And this offer isn’t solely for Court Lady Min.”

As I spoke, I glanced at the familiar faces of the Consort’s maids around us.

While addressing Court Lady Min as a representative, I extended the same offer to the maids listening intently.

Perhaps they, being younger, are more eager for new opportunities.

It might seem wasteful to employ these skilled Royal Secretariat palace women in educating and caring for beggar children, but they’ll truly stagnate if left idle.

“It will likely be more challenging than teaching novices in the palace, and there will be more miscellaneous tasks than you anticipate.”

“Princess.”

“But I’ll feel more secure with Court Lady Min present. Few possess experience in teaching and disciplining others. As you know, I trust very few people.”

However, you’ll probably have to relocate to the shelter. I’ve secured a sizable site, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

‘But wouldn’t living there be preferable to living here?’

I approached Court Lady Min, who was clearly wavering despite her silence, and whispered while holding her hand.

“And with more people around, those nasty individuals from before won’t be able to harass you.”

“!”

I subtly approached the politically neutral palace women, including the Consort’s maids, about the new job and quietly departed. It was convenient that the palace women knew each other well, including their affiliations.

On the way back, Gae asked,

“Will Court Lady Min accept the Princess’s offer?”

“If she doesn’t, there’s nothing I can do. But she probably will.”

I sighed, recalling the scene I had just witnessed.

In my past life, I saw several seniors and friends crying and taking on part-time jobs to pay off their families’ debts, and now I’m witnessing it here as well.

Once they start accepting money, it becomes a continuous cycle, eventually becoming normalized. Yet, they can’t sever ties because they’re family.

People around them are quick to criticize them for abandoning their family without settling the debt. If they feel so strongly, they should offer financial assistance while speaking.

At least within the palace, her safety is somewhat guaranteed as she won’t encounter them, but after retirement, she must feel lost.

‘Wouldn’t entering a temple have been better… I can’t interfere excessively in others’ personal affairs, but that would be safer. Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, or a place frequented by retired palace women—wouldn’t such a place exist? Ah, no. They would likely follow her there to cause trouble?’

Many temples and hermitages near the capital during the Joseon Dynasty were like that. Temples that survived the suppression of Buddhism had their reasons. Of course, that doesn’t imply those temples were particularly pleasant places to reside during the Joseon Dynasty.

Anyway, if Court Lady Min accepts, I plan to visit other palace women who have entered temples. It would be nice to see the outside world as well.

And it will be my responsibility to protect and supervise the palace women I bring along.

When I first considered educating the beggar children, retired palace women immediately came to mind.

Palace women who retire due to old age have saved money and can return home to their relatives for a comfortable retirement. However, those who retire early due to unavoidable circumstances face unemployment at a relatively young age and must begin a new life.

They find employment outside, and then the palace recalls them, only for them to be released again. What’s with the job insecurity?

‘And they can’t marry, so they can’t start a family.’

The situation of palace women who have received the King’s favor isn’t particularly enviable, but the situation of a concubine with children is slightly better.

In the Joseon Dynasty of history, many cases of entering temples seem to exist, but here, similar to the early Joseon Dynasty, more cases involve entrusting themselves to their children.

Currently, Jeongopwon (淨業院) exists within the palace—a temple where the remaining concubines reside after the King’s death. However, in the history I know, Confucian scholars protested even that, leading to its eventual disappearance.

‘Confucian scholars are so mean.’

How did humans reach such extremes?

The suppression of Buddhism began with its corruption during the Goryeo Dynasty, but later, the tyranny of Confucian scholars was no less severe.

It wasn’t solely a problem with Buddhism; it highlighted that power shouldn’t stagnate.

Moreover, while rejecting Buddhism, they utilized it diligently.

Fortunately, in this world, the transition seems more peaceful than extreme.

Whether it’s Confucianism or Neo-Confucianism, when introducing something new from abroad, one should adopt the good and improve the bad. However, those in power only insist on what benefits them, leading to their downfall.

In the first place, they claim that men are heaven and women are earth, but why do they live on earth? They should reside in heaven if they can.

Song Si-yeol, a Neo-Confucian fundamentalist, even argued that women should be taught to read and learn so they can live as human beings. He suggested employing them as female historians and training female soldiers in the north.

Of course, the idea of female historians stemmed from the fact that male officials couldn’t enter the inner palace, so female historians would enter and record events. This was deemed too much of an invasion of the royal family’s privacy, and the King was furious. Song Si-yeol lived during the time of the Byeongja Horan [Manchu invasion of Korea], so his ideas might have been based on the standards of when firearms were used.

Come to think of it, Sun Tzu also provided military training to palace women, didn’t he? I believe the King stopped it because he executed a favored concubine who disobeyed orders according to military law.

‘Oh, I think I just had a good idea.’

Well, let’s consider the details later. First, I should meet the children.

I heard the children were doing well and following the guidelines I had given.

‘They’re also gathering firewood and wild vegetables from the mountains.’

Because of Crown Prince Seongwon’s incident and Hong Suk-won’s actions, the royal family tends to react nervously to tigers. Consequently, tiger hunts are conducted periodically in the capital and Gyeonggi Province, making it relatively safe.

Perhaps because more time passed than I anticipated while traveling to the East Gate and back to the beggar children’s shelter, I felt a little hungry and spoke first.

After all, the highest-ranking person had to initiate in these situations.

“I’m getting hungry, so shall we eat something before we go?”

“As you wish.”

Gae and Sung Gyeom-sabok nodded without objection to my words.

It was a different place from last time; this time, I chose a tavern that appeared quite large.

Perhaps it was to see people I couldn’t see inside the palace.

‘There are peddlers and, surprisingly, scribes and low-ranking officials.’

Well, that’s how rumors spread.

Usually, the talk revolved around who in the neighborhood was having an affair or which house had a property dispute, which was naturally interesting to overhear.

‘It feels like listening to radio dramas.’

Of course, the privacy of those involved was completely disregarded, as was typical of the era.

“That man knows a lot.”

“Ah, young lady. You shouldn’t listen to such vulgar stories.”

While I was engrossed in a soap opera worthy of ‘Love and War,’ only Gae’s face flushed red with embarrassment.

Well, I’m… still eight years old.

I pretended not to hear for Gae’s mental well-being and focused on the food before me. This establishment makes excellent *gukbap* [rice soup].

“Really?!”

“Is that true?”

“That’s what I heard!”

When I glanced sideways at the commotion, noticing that new news had arrived, I saw Gae sighing softly. Whatever the inside story, it must have been overwhelming to venture into such a bustling place after living solely within the quiet palace.

“Young lady is very interested in rumors.”

“I don’t hear such colorful news at home.”

Of course, I hear rumors about events at certain noblemen’s houses.

Stimulating material is censored by the palace women’s conscience before it reaches my ears.

“Poison (賜藥)!”

However, upon hearing that unexpected word, I, Gae, and Sung Gyeom-sabok couldn’t help but turn our heads simultaneously.