Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 97

“So, what brings you here?”

“Ah, I came to ask a favor of the Crown Prince.”

“For you to ask me a favor is a rare thing indeed.”

The Crown Prince looked tired again today, so I quickly got to the point.

“Aren’t there many young boys in Siyoungwon [a government-run school for boys]?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that’s the case.”

“But it’s the court ladies who are in charge of their education.”

“So?”

“It’s good to teach them strictly, but the sex education is too focused on women……”

“Ahem!”

Coughing sounds echoed from various places inside the Gyujanggak [Royal Library], as if everyone was embarrassed.

“We need someone to give them proper sex education. It would be nice to have a couple with a good relationship who doesn’t frequent gisaeng houses [traditional Korean courtesan houses] or have concubines, but are the conditions too difficult?”

“Well… what do you all think?”

“Ahem. Hmm.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, everyone coughed and seemed to be pondering the answer.

Among the young scholars, there were some who objected.

“Why does Princess Suyeong think such a man is rare?”

“How could young scholars already be seeking out women?”

“But I once saw students harassing and teasing gisaengs in the middle of the road in broad daylight.”

“!”

Everyone’s face was filled with astonishment.

What kind of crazy bastard would do such a horrible thing in front of a child?! That was the look on their faces.

“When I tried to stop them, they tried to intimidate me. If there are many scholars like that, wouldn’t it be a big problem?”

“Princess, how can you compare us to such… *unrefined* people? I’m disappointed.”

“But they all bragged about being from prestigious families.”

“Ahem. Cough.”

Some of those from prestigious families coughed and turned away from me. If you were going to do that, you shouldn’t have defended them in the first place.

“Well, I thought they would live well on their own since they received a lot of moral education, but you never know. Even students who have studied a lot are like that, so if they go around doing bad things somewhere, what will become of my reputation?”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

The Crown Prince, who was nodding, asked as if he had just remembered something.

“But doesn’t the school you created already have a student teaching the children?”

“He’s still unmarried.”

“Oh dear… but how did that scholar come to be a teacher there?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? I found him collapsed on the road on the way to Siyoungwon and took him to the Hyeminseo [a government-run clinic for the poor]. They said he collapsed from heatstroke and starvation, so he received treatment. And after he woke up, I asked him and he said he had come to the capital from his hometown, but the relatives he was going to stay with had moved and he didn’t have any money, so he was wandering around.”

“So you took him in?”

“After talking to him, I found his knowledge useful.”

“……Isn’t it rare for you to say someone’s knowledge is useful?”

“He’s perceptive enough not to say strange things.”

For the record, that student was the reason I caused a ruckus at the Hyeminseo. At the time, there were so many heatstroke patients that the medicine stock was insufficient.

“I understand. I’ll look into it.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The kids are getting old, so I have to worry about them causing trouble. I’m busy.

But if I leave it to Court Lady Min, everyone will be reluctant to marry.

Since young men and women are bound to fall in love, it’s better to teach them properly than to block them clumsily.

‘Ah, I want to rest a little.’

But today was the day the consorts of the royal family were coming, so I had to go to the Junggungjeon [Queen’s residence].

It would be nice to skip those meetings, but if I skip them, bad rumors will spread, so I had to go every time, even if it was annoying.

‘I have to save the Queen’s face a little. Still, she’s my daughter……’

Aren’t we both in a position where we don’t have many places to lean on?

***

After the tea time with the consorts of the royal family, I was finally able to return to my residence.

Today, I made snacks for the consorts, so Songbi accompanied me to the Junggungjeon. Even if she goes to the Junggungjeon with me, Songbi has to wait outside for me to come out, so it’s not like it’s a good thing.

But Songbi’s breads were always delicious, so everyone praised Songbi’s skills today as well, so I naturally conveyed those compliments to Songbi.

“It is enough for me to please Princess Suyeong with my lacking skills.”

“You always work hard, is there anything you want?”

“These days, Princess Suyeong is always busy, so I am only worried about Princess Suyeong’s health.”

“I told you I’m fine. That’s right, let’s go out together next time. Have you ever been to my private residence?”

“Yes. Seeing the wide and beautiful palace, I felt like I knew how much His Majesty cherishes Princess Suyeong.”

“Songbi will live there with me too.”

“Hehe. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

I was having a warm time with Songbi and was returning when I met unexpected people.

They weren’t exactly welcome faces.

“Isn’t that Lord Pyeongseong, Lord Yeongcheon, and Uncle Lord Heunghwa?”

The three men bowed politely to me.

Although they were higher in rank than me, I was higher in status, so we had to greet each other politely.

“Is that Princess Suyeong?”

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“We were on our way back from seeing His Majesty.”

Lord Pyeongseong was the maternal uncle of the deceased Crown Prince Seongwon.

He wasn’t particularly outstanding, but he wasn’t someone who had done anything particularly bad either. The King and the Crown Prince were treating him well, thinking of the deceased Crown Prince Seongwon, but somehow he wasn’t a style that people liked.

Lord Yeongcheon… I saw him once at the wedding of Lord Hwacheon’s daughter, Songan, and at that time, he strangely sided with the other family more than worrying about his nephew. Later, I heard that Lord Yeongcheon was the one who arranged the marriage.

Thanks to that, his relationship with his brother, Lord Hwacheon, became a little awkward, and looking at his eyes, he seemed to resent me.

Originally, matchmaking is said to bring three cups of wine if it goes well and three slaps if it goes wrong, but he introduced his nephew without properly investigating, so it was a natural thing.

Lastly, Lord Heunghwa had a strange connection with me.

I didn’t have any direct interaction with him, but it was a connection that was made at the funeral of my biological mother, Concubine Yoon.

Usually, concubines would set up a mortuary at their parents’ house and hold a funeral, but Concubine Yoon was an orphan, so she didn’t have a parents’ house. So I had to prepare a mortuary elsewhere, and the person who stepped forward to set up a mortuary in his house was Lord Heunghwa.

Since it was just the funeral of a concubine from a court lady, no one was willing to do it, but he was the only member of the royal family who stepped forward first. Thanks to that, he held the funeral on my behalf while I was unconscious, so he was a very grateful person to me.

‘If I can’t get married and die early without descendants, one of Lord Heunghwa’s descendants will probably be adopted into my family register and perform ancestral rites for me.’

Grand Princes, Princes, Princesses, and Princesses are Bucheonwi (不遷位) [a rank that ensures ancestral rites are performed perpetually], so they have ancestral rites performed every year regardless of the ancestral rites that are usually performed only up to the 4th generation of ancestors, so since I have already received the title of Princess Suyeong, someone had to perform my ancestral rites later.

In fact, if the Crown Prince has many descendants, one of them is most likely to do it, but before my Bongsasun (奉祀孫: a descendant who will perform ancestral rites) [lineage], there is no sign of even a Crown Prince being born yet.

‘The infant mortality rate is also high.’

Of course, the King can designate one, but if I live a little longer, it will be clear that it will be according to my will, and in either case, if I adopt one of the royal family, it was clear that I would choose one of Lord Heunghwa’s descendants who had a connection with me, so some of the royal family seemed to be upset.

Receiving my ancestral rites also meant inheriting my property.

Everyone knew that I had a lot of property received from the King and property I had made through business.

“Princess, it must be painful for you to live like this without getting married, but I hope you overcome it well. Aren’t we family? If you have any difficulties, you can ask for help at any time.”

“Haha. Princess is one of the richest people in the capital, and with His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince, what worries would she have? Of course, it may be uncomfortable to live as a child forever, but isn’t this also the will of heaven?”

Lord Yeongcheon and Lord Pyeongseong took turns in front of me and made long, absurd remarks.

No, when and how much have I seen you to say such a thing? Are you picking a fight?

“As you said, I am receiving excessive love from His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince, so what worries would I have? Since I have received a lot, I am just trying to make sure that there are no starving people. Isn’t that for His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince? I heard that there are children starving near the capital these days. I was worried that I might not have enough capacity alone, but I am very grateful that you have stepped forward to help me.”

You said you would help, so let’s get some help. So how many bags of rice can you donate?

You clearly said you would help earlier?

When I asked with an expectant look, making the most admirable and commendable expression possible, the momentum to criticize me disappeared and they both quietly avoided my gaze.

Ugh, you humans.

In the awkward atmosphere, only Lord Heunghwa greeted me with ease.

“Haha. As expected, Princess is benevolent. It is a blessing for the country that Princess is using her private wealth to take care of the starving people. Isn’t that right? Lord Pyeongseong, Lord Yeongcheon.”

“Ahem.”

Lord Heunghwa smiled and finished it, and the two men hurriedly stepped back.

“Then, we will leave now as you must be busy.”

“Yes. Take care.”

What kind of people are they?

Lord Heunghwa was not guilty, but I, who had unintentionally filled up my stress level, could not shake off the unpleasant feeling even after returning to my residence.

“How could Lord Pyeongseong speak so carelessly to Princess?”

“Hush. Watch your mouth.”

“But this is an act of ignoring Princess. Isn’t he just a man who has the title of Lord Pyeongseong without even passing the *gwageo* [civil service examination]?”

Not having the ability is unfortunate, but it was troublesome if the person didn’t even have a concept.

Although he was called Lord Pyeongseong, the Crown Prince was only treating him well and did not think he would be helpful, so he was keeping an appropriate distance.

“Not all members of the royal family are like that.”

Well, it’s not strange to meet members of the royal family by chance, but there are many normal people, but why did I meet such unpleasant people among the members of the royal family?

Everyone is worried that I am not growing up, but they tend not to show it, but it was rare for someone to openly mock me like that.

“Shall I go out tomorrow to change my mood?”

“Will you do that?”

Soyi, who was also in a bad mood, was quiet, perhaps because she was also in a bad mood, and would have usually nagged me about going out again.

‘I heard some interesting stories from the consorts of the royal family, so I should stop by my private residence and go there too.’

***

The next day, as promised the day before, I left the palace with Songbi after a long time.

The destination was my private residence.

And today, Seong Gyeomsabok [a palace guard] was with me.

‘I promised to give him lifetime employment when he retires, but it was temporarily suspended because I couldn’t get married, so I feel a little sorry.’

Since this is the case, I asked him if he would just live in my private residence, but he declined, saying that the place he is living in now is convenient for Gyeomsabok life.

Is he really thinking of coming when he retires?

Everyone has seen my private residence, but they wouldn’t have wandered around an empty house, so I took them around and showed them around the house.

Of course, my collection too.

“Oh my, it seems that Princess’s collection has increased even while I haven’t seen it.”

“Ah, it’s because it was a gift.”

Perhaps my taste has become known, most of the gifts passed my aesthetic sense, so they were displayed in my private residence like this.

“Princess. While Princess was not here, some people who deal with antiques came to visit.”

“Antiques?”

“Yes, they said they have some relics from the Silla and Baekje periods as well as the Goryeo period.”

“Hmm. How did they look? Not like scammers?”

“What would I know, but there were no people who looked impoverished.”

“Hmm.”

Yeongseon, who I am talking to now, was one of the slaves that the King forced on me in the past, and was a talent who raised his hand in almost every field when looking for the slaves’ special talents.

Since that day, he seemed to have many talents, so after talking about this and that, he had knowledge of art, so I brought him to my private residence instead of Siyoungwon to manage my collection. Of course, if he was separated from his family alone, he would be lonely, so I allowed his family to live in the private residence with him.

‘He’s a talented person, it’s a waste.’

Even if he hadn’t become a slave, would a daughter of a noble family have been able to do something with such excellent knowledge?

He is usually a man of few words and little expression, but when he looks at my collection and talks to me, he sparkles his eyes and rattles off various explanations without hesitation. He especially likes Goryeo celadon, so he was quite similar to me in taste.

Thanks to that, he seems to like the job of managing the relics quite a bit, so I was happy to see him. I was really lucky to meet such a managerial person.

Yeongseon’s reaction seemed a little expectant, so I was also a little expectant.

Besides, one of the antique dealers that Yeongseon mentioned was also the place that one of the consorts of the royal family told me about yesterday.

Among the antique dealers, there are places that secretly introduce a shop only to VIP customers, so those with a collecting habit gather there.

“Okay. Then let’s go find it today.”

Today I came to change my mood, so it was just right.