Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 95

“Has the young lady arrived?”

As I entered the Hyeminseo [Joseon Dynasty medical institution], several familiar medical officers and female doctors greeted me warmly. The female doctors greeting me weren’t those who had passed the official exam to become royal female physicians, but rather those without official positions, like nurses.

Because the Hyeminseo didn’t have many formally appointed doctors.

Still, with some female doctors becoming medical officers, the number of official medical officers had increased.

“Anything unusual happen?”

“No, Young Miss.”

Having visited several times already, most people at the Hyeminseo recognized me, unless they were new. But those seeing me for the first time were often taken aback, like now.

“Wh-who are you……?”

“You’ve arrived, Young Miss. These children are newly arrived female nurses. They are determined to take the regular exam next time. Young-ah, Jinhee, Sehwa, Suha, greet her.”

So, if they didn’t recognize me, they must be new. Of course, there were some familiar faces among them.

“Young Miss! It’s been a while.”

“Jinhee. I heard you passed, but it feels strange seeing you here as a nurse.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Young Miss.”

Among the outstanding children from Siyoungwon [orphanage/charity I established], some had already passed the female doctor exam and entered the medical bureau. Everyone seemed to know her story, and those who hadn’t recognized me soon realized who I was.

And this child was the reason I visited the Hyeminseo first today.

“I brought some treats to celebrate, so share them as a snack when you take a break.”

“Thank you, Young Miss!”

Since I had brought snacks several times before, those who already knew me cheered quietly as they received the bundles Soi handed out.

They probably didn’t want to make a loud noise and risk others taking them away.

Perhaps because of that, I was known here as the Siyoungwon Young Miss.

I don’t remember exactly when, but I found a sick person on the way to Siyoungwon and brought them here, but they wouldn’t accept them again. Annoyed, I caused a bit of a ruckus, and they excused themselves, saying they lacked medicine, so I immediately went to the pharmacy and bought a large quantity of medicine, piling it up in the yard.

Only then did the Jubu (主簿: Rank 6 official) come out, flustered, and ask me who I was.

‘So I just said I was the Siyoungwon Young Miss…….’

It felt a bit much to cause a scene and reveal that I was a Princess.

Afterward, while discussing the Hyeminseo’s financial situation and medicine supply issues through the royal physician, I discovered someone embezzling funds and immediately had them sent away.

I didn’t kill them.

Perhaps because the culprit was cut off not long after I caused a ruckus, I brought some medicine and food to apologize for the scene I had made when I went to check on the patient I had picked up, and everyone’s attitude became very polite.

Maybe until then, they didn’t know I was a Princess.

But I continued to visit the Hyeminseo, checking on their situation…….

If a young child who occasionally brought medicine or food, talked to the Jubu, and never seemed to grow up, went unnoticed for several years, that would be even stranger.

Thanks to that, the doctors, who initially saw me as a wealthy nobleman’s daughter and looked at me with the eyes of someone watching a cute child, began to treat me with complete formality over the years.

‘Now I even understand their financial situation through documents.’

Among the medicines, there were many precious and dangerous ones, so I thoroughly checked the inventory. I was a bit strict, so these days, there were no discrepancies in the accounts.

Instead, they just looked at me with a somewhat weary face.

However, if I felt that there was a shortage of medicine compared to the number of patients, I would use my own money to provide medicine, and respect began to flow from the eyes of some medical officers.

Is it because it’s a public institution that only eats money? The procedure for supplying medicine is complicated.

“Is there enough soap?”

“Many people come looking to acquire it, but……”

The Jubu trailed off. Even though it was supposed to be used only within the Hyeminseo, someone was secretly selling it, so they were selling it at a high price to those who came looking for it, but it still seemed to be lacking.

If an insider was secretly selling it, they could be caught, but it was difficult to crack down on patients or guardians secretly taking it.

What’s even more frustrating is that some people think soap is medicine?

It would be fortunate if they washed the wound with soap, but some just rubbed the soap on without water or tried to eat it.

‘Basic education is needed…….’

The Jubu at the Hyeminseo, seeing me worried, laughed and comforted me.

“Please don’t worry too much. It will just take time for people to become familiar with soap.”

“It’s a bit concerning to teach them how to make it because it’s a dangerous substance.”

Many people knew how to make lye water for laundry, but knowing how toxic it was to boil it down, I was a little hesitant to spread it widely.

Even in the process of making soap, the workers were instructed to cover their noses and mouths with cloth and avoid the wind direction.

“I heard that the royal physicians have completed the data compilation on the number of patients and the speed of treatment before and after using soap.”

“Yes. Everyone is already feeling it on their skin, but it’s definitely more reliable to have actual statistical data.”

These days, the statistical data is created and submitted with the graphs I taught them how to make. Sometimes, people are caught manipulating the graphs, and if they are caught intentionally manipulating them, they are stripped of their official positions.

“We look forward to your continued support.”

“Suffer a little more.”

Perhaps the happiest people to know that soap can reduce the incidence of disease are the Hyeminseo doctors.

As I was coming out after talking seriously with the Jubu, some of the doctors rushed at me with limp faces and asked.

“Ah, Young Miss, this, what exactly is this food that you gave us?”

“It’s so delicious!”

“It’s Gamlan Jeonbyeong [Castella cake].”

“Yeeh?”

Those who had heard rumors about what Gamlan Jeonbyeong was hugged the castella in their hands as if it were a precious treasure.

Did you wash your hands before eating?

“Then this is, that, made with expensive flour that only high-ranking people can eat…… bread!”

“These days, we import flour and grow a lot more wheat, so it’s not that much.”

I tried to interject, but everyone seemed to be ignoring me. Well, since there aren’t many people who know how to make bread yet, it was true that it could only be eaten inside the palace unless I gifted it.

But where did that word spread from? The palace maids?

‘Castella is an expensive food, not because of the flour, but because of the sugar.’

The king imported seeds from abroad because I ate so much flour. Since the king had given me land here and there, he planted a little bit as a test and cultivated it in the place where it grew best.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how the children who are teaching the tenant farmers are doing. Jia was definitely from Jeolla-do [province in Korea], I wonder if she’s doing well in another region.’

Several years have already passed since I created Siyoungwon.

Many children had learned to read, but of course, there were quite a few who couldn’t find a job where they could properly use it.

I sent those children to the areas where I had received land to teach the tenant farmers to read.

Of course, I paid for the expenses.

Since the road could be rough and there was a risk of wild animals or bandits, I sent them in groups of several people with children who had learned martial arts. On the way, I also inquired about skilled doctors, and if there were any interesting folktales or rumors, I collected them as well, fulfilling my personal desires.

They were all busy teaching reading, teaching the contents of agricultural books, and rewarding them if there were good farming methods.

‘Thanks to that, there are fewer familiar faces in Siyoungwon.’

I’m only sixteen now, and there were many children older than me, so they were all at an age where they were looking for a job.

Some of them were ambitious and asked for capital to start a business, but only about three out of ten actually made a business plan. I invested only in them for now, but I don’t know how it turned out.

‘There might be one who hits the jackpot like in the old stories.’

And these days, Gai is all-in on the ginseng business.

‘Does Princess know about ginseng (人蔘) [a medicinal root]?’

‘Is it…… artificially grown wild ginseng?’

‘You are indeed brilliant. Korean wild ginseng is so popular in China, but wild ginseng has to be found by Simmani [Ginseng diggers], so the number is small. Therefore, the supply is insufficient compared to the demand. But if it can be cultivated, you can make a lot of money.’

I knew that Korean ginseng would sell well in China, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know how to grow it. But suddenly Gai was persuading me that the ginseng business would be successful, and honestly, I could only call her a genius…… Honestly, she was too good of a talent to rot as a palace maid.

‘Is my word too absurd?’

‘No, Gai is doing too well. But don’t overdo it.’

‘Don’t worry. I will definitely earn money so that Princess can live comfortably.’

Even royalty has limits to their wealth, so it was a grand plan to allow me to live extravagantly.

She doesn’t say it, but Gai is more concerned than anyone else that I’m not growing up, so I thought she might have discovered ginseng while looking for medicine.

Thanks to Gai, my wealth was growing smoothly.

The tavern franchise is doing well, the soap is selling well, and the restaurant is doing well.

In addition, Siyoungwon is running smoothly, the school is running well, and the children are getting good jobs.

“Hmm.”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, I was just thinking, shouldn’t I live comfortably now?”

“Yes, please do.”

As I was talking to Soi and leaving the Hyeminseo, I saw the children I had brought in earlier.

“Little boy. Is your brother okay now?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Sister.”

Fortunately, the child didn’t have a serious illness and was asleep on his brother’s back. This child also looked no more than seven or eight years old, but he was a commendable child for carrying his sick brother all the way here.

“Where is your house? Is it far from here?”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s okay? How far are you going to carry your brother?”

“When he wakes up, we can walk together.”

“Okay. If he gets sick again, you have to come straight to the Hyeminseo. Got it?”

“Yes.”

I stroked the head of the child who nodded obediently.

The child’s clothes were clean and didn’t smell. He was a child who was cared for by his parents.

Since there are already plenty of children to take care of, I don’t have to take care of him anymore.

“Is your brother still sleeping?”

“Yes.”

“Then eat this.”

“Yes?”

Inside the paper I handed out was something yellow, glossy, and fluffy. It was the castella I had brought to give to the Siyoungwon children.

“Your brother can’t eat just anything yet. Eat it alone.”

“Yes? Ah, but, um…… um, is it really okay?”

“Yes, it’s a reward for the brother who took good care of his brother.”

“Th-thank you……!”

The child blushed and smiled, happy to be praised and rewarded.

***

“The Young Miss is giving bread to the children.”

“That little kid is lucky. He gets to eat that precious thing.”

The female nurses smacked their lips as they watched the Siyoungwon Young Miss giving bread to the brother of the child who had come in sick earlier.

“She really likes children.”

“Is it because she feels more familiar with young children?”

“Yes? Isn’t it natural to feel familiar because she’s a young child?”

Everyone chuckled at the words of the new female nurse who was puzzled.

“Don’t say unnecessary things in front of the Young Miss. Actually, that Young Miss is…….”

The new female nurses were surprised and opened their mouths wide at the words of their seniors. They had vaguely heard rumors, but they never imagined it was true.

“So be careful what you say when the Young Miss comes.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Those who had thought she was just a kind-hearted daughter of a wealthy family nodded diligently at the unexpected truth and dispersed.

“Huh?”

“Suha, what’s wrong?”

“No, there’s someone next to those boys from earlier. Did a guardian come?”

“Where?”

As the female nurses craned their necks, they saw the figure of a boy and a man squatting in front of him among the patients.

“Looks like a guardian came. Let’s go do our work.”

“Okay.”