I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 140

< People Bowing Down 1 >

For commoners, life revolves around cooking, laundry, and sewing. That’s if they’re relatively well-off.

Usually, they juggle housework and farming. A commoner woman typically spends her days in the fields, bent over, tilling the soil from dawn till dusk.

“Didn’t you have servants to handle the housework?”

“Thanks to the servants, I was spared from cooking and laundry, but I always did the sewing myself.”

“Then you probably didn’t learn to read?”

“I only learned enough to read a little. My older brother, who travels far for business, insisted I be able to read the letters he sends…”

“How admirable. It’s rare for a commoner to even know how to read.”

The Empress reevaluated her plan. Still wary of men, a young girl who has only known sewing, and a commoner – this girl could be useful. It would be much better to use this child as her own hands and feet. Of course, once she gets older, she’ll realize her position and understand how much power the Emperor’s favor holds, but that much time is enough.

By then, the Empress’s two-year-old son will likely be named Crown Prince.

Once the Empress’s son is named Crown Prince, it won’t matter how much favor Yang Ryeo-cheong monopolizes from the Emperor.

Power flows like the waters of the Yangtze River [China’s longest river, symbolizing constant and unstoppable movement].

The Empress’s expression softened.

“Oh, I heard your brother entered the palace today. Did you get to see him?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He saw my face and left right away. He said it was enough to confirm that I’m healthy and well.”

“Really?”

That was unexpected. Usually, when family members of concubines came to the palace, they would spend a considerable amount of time sightseeing and trying to get a taste of power.

But a commoner merchant, on his first visit to the palace, only checked on his sister and left?

She could guess what was on their minds.

They are being extremely cautious. They’ve given up trying to benefit from the Imperial family’s influence and are only thinking about protecting their well-being.

The Empress’s face broke into a smile again.

Yang Ryeo-cheong didn’t miss the Empress’s smile and opened her mouth.

“Your Majesty, my brother prepared a small gift for his first visit to the palace.”

“A gift?”

“Your Majesty is the most important person to me. He said it would be impolite to come empty-handed.”

At Yang Ryeo-cheong’s signal, Hong-yeon and two other women quickly went outside to bring in the gift.

“W-What is that?”

Not only the Empress but also the court ladies and eunuchs widened their eyes.

“My brother made it himself… He calls it a stroller.”

“A stroller?”

“It’s made from lightwood and balsa wood brought from the distant Saracen Empire [a historical term for the Arab world]. They say it’s the lightest and strongest wood in the world.”

The wood was barely visible. All sorts of precious jewels covered the wood.

“Really? What is it used for?”

“He prepared it for the Prince.”

“What? For my son?”

“Yes.”

The Empress couldn’t contain her curiosity and stood up to walk over to the stroller.

“It’s like a cradle with wheels.”

“No one can match Your Majesty’s brilliance. You recognized it right away.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong grabbed the handle of the stroller.

“When Your Majesty takes a walk in the back garden, you can lay the Prince here and push it slowly.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong fully extended the stroller’s canopy.

“You can also use it to block the sunlight when it’s too strong…”

The Empress couldn’t hide her amazed expression.

“What a marvelous thing. Now I don’t have to leave the Prince in the hands of others.”

“That’s right. If a court lady carrying the Prince makes a mistake, the Prince’s precious body might be harmed, but this stroller eliminates that risk.”

The Empress’s attention shifted from Yang Ryeo-cheong to the stroller.

Just as Jo Gwang-yun successfully navigated his first meeting with the Emperor, Yang Ryeo-cheong also successfully navigated her first meeting with the Empress.

The remaining concubines would be even more excited than the Empress if Jo Gwang-yun gave them the precious gifts he had prepared.

* * *

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Jo Gwang-yun headed home. He focused his senses to check if anyone was following him, but there was no one.

The Emperor had seen his face and even offered him a position, so it seems he decided that a background check wasn’t necessary.

After arriving home, Jo Gwang-yun waited for the sun to set before heading to Yun Ju-seong’s house.

“Jo Jang-ju [a term of respect], or… is it Jo Ju-bu [another term of respect] now? Haha.”

“It’s all thanks to you, sir.”

“Nonsense. I only added one more move to the chess pieces you laid out. And… you were quite impressive today.”

“Did the Emperor say anything special after I left?”

“He was very satisfied. He’ll probably call for you again soon.”

“Me?”

Yun Ju-seong nodded.

“He said he wants to have a deeper conversation with you. Not in the main hall, but in a more comfortable setting. He might even hold a small banquet and invite you.”

“That would be an uncomfortable situation.”

“What will make you even more uncomfortable is the people who will start approaching you. The Emperor has taken an interest in you, after all.”

These are people who are sensitive to the Emperor’s favor. But Jo Gwang-yun needs to discern who is approaching him.

“Can you tell me who I should avoid? I need to know what kind of power they wield.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to avoid them all? If words leak out here and there, it won’t be good for you.”

“If I were going to avoid everyone, I wouldn’t have sent my sister to become a concubine. Once you’ve stepped in, you have to walk through the mud or the flower path.”

Yun Ju-seong sighed deeply.

“I understand. I’ll make a list of people you should be careful of and send it to you.”

“And shouldn’t you be aiming for a higher position now? Tell me what position you want. I’ll see what I can do.”

Yun Ju-seong shook his head.

“It’s not time yet. The reason I’m still in the court is precisely because I’m not in a high position. If I stand out even a little, that day will be my death anniversary.”

“Is it because of Wi Chung-hyeon’s power?”

“Yes. The court is filled with Wi Chung-hyeon’s people. It’s a power that even the Emperor can’t control. I’m waiting for the moment when there’s even a slight crack in their solid power. Even the Emperor is.”

“I see. Then let me know when that time comes.”

Yun Ju-seong can wait, but Jo Gwang-yun didn’t want to wait.

You have to create your own opportunities.

* * *

“Have you returned?”

“Yes, Jang-ju [term of respect].”

Gu Seung’s expression wasn’t good.

“How’s their living situation?”

“It’s hard to believe it’s the residence of the Queen Dowager…”

“Is it that bad?”

“They seemed to be barely making ends meet.”

“The late Emperor must have granted her a considerable fiefdom when she was appointed as Empress?”

Gu Seung shook his head.

“I called out one of the old servants of that household and bought him some wine and food at an inn, and asked him about the situation in detail. He said that as soon as the Emperor ascended the throne and she was demoted to Queen Dowager, the Emperor took everything back. He even issued a strict order that they couldn’t do anything that would earn them a living, claiming it was a matter of face for the Queen Dowager’s family.”

“So they’ve tied her hands and feet and are waiting for her to starve to death?”

“Not exactly. They send her rice and wood every month. Just enough to live on.”

If they’re keeping the Queen Dowager barely alive and treating her family the same way, something’s strange.

No matter how much he dislikes his stepmother, wasn’t she just an ignorant woman who entered the Imperial Palace after his birth mother died?

He couldn’t understand why the Emperor would hate her this much.

Gu Seung answered this question.

“I don’t know if it’s true or not, but they say all of this was the Empress’s scheme.”

“The Empress?”

“Yes.”

“Is that what the servant said?”

“Yes. You can decide, Jang-ju [term of respect]. I’m just relaying what I heard.”

“Alright. What did he say?”

“The affairs of the Imperial family are heavily influenced by the most senior member, who is the Queen Dowager. The Empress’s family was unhappy about this, and it just so happened that the Queen Dowager called the Empress and scolded her severely.”

“The Queen Dowager did?”

“Yes. After all, she’s her mother-in-law. So, the Empress, from a powerful family, wouldn’t stand being scolded by a young Queen Dowager, would she?”

The young mother-in-law is the most senior member of the Imperial family, so she must have tried to kill two birds with one stone [achieve two goals with one action].

She must have incited the Emperor, who was already uncomfortable and displeased with the Queen Dowager, and the Emperor didn’t miss the opportunity.

The Empress drove out her mother-in-law, and the Empress’s family drove out the most senior member of the Imperial family.

Living in hardship makes her a perfect insurance policy.

“Gu Seung.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, bring them enough rice, meat, and other food every month. And don’t skimp on firewood so they can stay warm in the winter. Understood?”

“Just food?”

“Yes. If you give them money or precious treasures, it will definitely spread rumors, and it will be evidence that I gave it to them. Food and firewood disappear without a trace, so it’s fine.”

“Ah…”

“Oh, and take a doctor to check on her health and prescribe some tonics if necessary.”

“So you mean I can provide anything that disappears?”

“That’s right. And tell her this too.”

“Yes.”

“I apologize for not being able to give you better things because I’m afraid of the eyes of the world. Someday, when the time comes, I will send you a cart full of gold and jewels, so please be patient and wait.”

“Yes, I will convey that.”

She may be living like she’s dead, but the Queen Dowager is still the most senior member of the Imperial family.

The Queen Dowager will know that Jo Gwang-yun sent her enough food and firewood, and she will also hear the last words I conveyed.

When the time comes…!

These words give hope to someone living like they’re dead.

Hope makes those who wait tired, but those with will turn hope into a goal. Isn’t the Queen Dowager still young?

Humans with goals tend to move, and if the Queen Dowager moves, it could create a small ripple in the Imperial Palace, which has been solidified by Wi Chung-hyeon’s system.

A palace with many ripples, rather than a stable one, creates opportunities.

The more gaps there are, the more opportunities there are to squeeze in. Jo Gwang-yun was planning to work diligently to create many gaps in the Imperial family.

* * *

“You bitches, I’ll kill you all!”

Teacups flew and vases shattered. At this rate, one or two court ladies or eunuchs would die.

She may be a forgotten old woman, but she was still a vibrant woman.

A mother with a son and daughter-in-law older than herself.

She had the most noble son in the world, but that son had no filial piety [respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors] whatsoever. He wasn’t her biological son, and she was a woman whom the late Emperor had kept by his side in his later years, so there was no way her son, the Emperor, would look kindly upon her.

It had been a long time since he had skipped his morning and evening greetings under the pretext of being busy, so there was no way his daughters-in-law would visit either. How many years had she been living alone in this vast Imperial Palace without a single visitor? The Queen Dowager seemed like a non-existent person in the Imperial Palace.

But today, they came to pay their respects as a group.

The very daughters-in-law who had ignored her to the point where she didn’t even know who was who.

She wondered why they had come, but they were wearing expensive jewelry and trinkets, showing off their newly acquired possessions.

Those who couldn’t even breathe when her husband was alive were now openly ignoring her.

What the Queen Dowager couldn’t stand the most was that the Empress hadn’t shown up. It was clear that the Empress was the one who had ordered the concubines to come and rub salt in her wounds [intentionally make someone feel worse].

What a truly cruel woman.

She was giving such humiliation to her mother-in-law, the Queen Dowager, simply to remind her who had more power in the Imperial family.

After the concubines finished showing off and left, the Queen Dowager’s pent-up anger exploded.

That anger was directed at the innocent people below her.

< People Bowing Down 1 > End