I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 178

< The Birth of a New Life 3 >

One royal physician rushed into the birthing chamber, while the other shouted at the midwives trailing behind at the entrance.

“Prepare hot water and clean, sterilized cloths! Hurry!”

Beyond the birthing chamber’s curtains, a piercing scream continued relentlessly. The royal physician, seeing the midwives scatter again with pale faces, quickly entered.

Yang Ryeo-cheong was screaming incessantly.

The first physician in carefully removed the swaddling clothes from the peacefully sleeping baby boy and laid him on the blood-soaked silk. The baby stirred, as if trying to wake up.

“The umbilical cord?”

“Here it is.”

Hong-yeon handed over the umbilical cord from a basket.

Noisy sounds were heard again from outside. It seemed the midwives had gathered.

The two royal physicians exchanged glances and began the final task.

One physician dashed outside, while the remaining one began to spank the baby boy’s bottom.

The physician who went outside shouted at the gathered midwives.

“Why are you all so slow! At this rate, Her Majesty will be all alone…”

Suddenly, a loud scream erupted from Yang Ryeo-cheong.

“Wah-!”

Before the physician could finish speaking, a robust baby’s cry was heard from beyond the curtain.

The midwives, who were entering with hot water and cloths, all collapsed to the ground. The Royal Consort had given birth to the child alone. If there were any problems with the child or the mother, the midwives were overwhelmed with worry about how they would atone for their sluggishness.

* * *

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

The chief eunuch, who was preparing the emperor’s robes after he had finished his official duties in Euirip Hall, frowned.

The eunuch running in with such a fuss was surely from the Empress’s residence, Jeonghwa Palace, he thought.

The Emperor had clearly said he would stay at Jeonghwa Palace tonight, yet here he was, rushing to urge him on as soon as the sun had set. But what fault did that fellow have?

He was just doing as the Empress ordered.

However, the one standing before Euirip Hall was not a eunuch from Jeonghwa Palace but from Haan Palace.

“Royal Consort Yang has just… given birth to a prince!”

“What?”

The Emperor shouted in surprise, and the chief eunuch confirmed once more.

“Are you certain it is a prince?”

“Would I dare speak falsely? The royal physician has just confirmed it, so I rushed here immediately.”

At the news that the royal physician had confirmed it, everyone in Euirip Hall, including the chief eunuch, prostrated themselves on the floor.

“Your Majesty, congratulations.”

The Emperor barely acknowledged their congratulations and moved as if running.

The chief eunuch quickly grabbed the thick outer robe that was only half-worn and followed behind the Emperor.

#

“Your Majesty! Empress!”

As soon as she heard the commotion, the Empress sighed.

Such a fuss surely meant that the Emperor, who was supposed to visit her residence tonight, was making excuses and would not be coming.

“Stop making such a fuss and tidy up the bedchamber. I will go to bed early today…”

“Your Majesty! Royal Consort Yang has given birth! It’s a son!”

“Are… are you certain?”

“Yes! It has just been confirmed. And His Majesty is on his way there now.”

Her vision darkened for a moment, and then her stomach churned.

What kind of woman was that in her past life to be born with so much fortune?

Heavenly beauty, meeting a wealthy merchant from the Central Plains [historical region in China] and becoming sworn siblings, and seizing the position of the Emperor’s concubine. She had committed immoral acts because she couldn’t conceive, but that woman conceived the Emperor’s child within a year and even gave birth to a son. A commoner, no less.

She couldn’t help but feel an uncontrollable rage at how unfair this was, but what suppressed that anger was worry about the future.

What would happen if the Emperor had other thoughts?

Could he possibly crown that lowly thing with common blood as the Crown Prince?

She was furious again. It was all because of her brother, Wi Chung-hyeon.

She had warned him several times, but he always dismissed it. He kept repeating that he had that woman’s brother in his grasp, so there was nothing to worry about.

But now a son had been born. Would that woman’s brother, known for his intelligence, really stay still?

Wouldn’t he have other thoughts and intentions?

The Empress’s anger slowly turned into fear.

It was customary to raise the rank of a concubine who produced a son, and considering the Emperor’s favor, something extraordinary might happen.

Instead of rising from Royal Consort to Noble Consort (貴嬪) [a high-ranking concubine], she might even become a Royal Noble Consort (貴妃) [the highest rank for a concubine].

Noble Consort was the highest rank for a concubine. If there was a hierarchy dispute among the concubines, all the concubines would have to bow to Yang Ryeo-cheong.

But if she became a Royal Noble Consort, she would be the legal wife. The concubines would still have to bow, but it wasn’t just a matter of precedence; their status would be completely different.

If Yang Ryeo-cheong was appointed as Royal Noble Consort, she would be chasing right behind the Empress.

And becoming a Royal Noble Consort might be the first step to crowning the newborn son as the Crown Prince.

To prevent such a misfortune, she had to act now.

If Yang Ryeo-cheong’s son was crowned as the Crown Prince, her future would be like that of the old woman in the back chambers, the Queen Dowager.

The Empress shouted at her attendants.

“I will commend Royal Consort Yang for her hard work. Prepare a couple of appropriate gifts.”

For now, she would fulfill her duty as the superior.

* * *

When the Emperor arrived at Haan Palace, the first thing he noticed was the royal physicians kneeling on the ground.

“What is this? Has something unfortunate happened?”

The royal physicians, who had taken care of her safely during her pregnancy and were responsible for the delivery, should have been greatly rewarded, but they were not raising their heads as if they had committed a crime.

“Why don’t you speak? What’s wrong?”

“Royal Consort Yang suddenly gave birth, so we had no choice but to deliver the prince ourselves. In the process, we irreverently touched Royal Consort’s Yang’s body, so how can we hide our sin? We humbly beg you to punish us for our irreverence, Your Majesty.”

“Stop talking nonsense, and what about the mother and child?”

“Royal Consort is unharmed, and the prince is healthy as well.”

“Then that’s enough. It was an emergency, so you prioritized life over the royal court’s rules, didn’t you? There’s nothing to blame. Rather, I will reward you, so get up.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

As the royal physicians stood up, the Emperor stroked their shoulders. There was no greater commendation from the Emperor for the two royal physicians than this.

The Emperor turned to the chief eunuch and said.

“Let’s go back.”

“Just like that?”

The chief eunuch asked cautiously, and the Emperor shook his head.

“She must still be out of her mind from the urgency. If I go in, I will only see her before she has had a chance to recover. It’s something that can be seen after she recovers.”

“Then shall we escort you to Jeonghwa Palace?”

“No. How could I do that when I think of Royal Consort Yang, who has suffered giving birth? Set the course for Taechun Palace. I want to be alone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor moved leisurely.

* * *

The news that a joyous event had occurred in the royal palace spread quickly.

Jo Gwang-yun felt relieved that the long day was over and picked up the wine glass in front of him. His fingertips were still trembling slightly because he hadn’t calmed down yet.

He chose wine for the celebratory drink, but it didn’t taste the way he wanted. Living here, this was the first time he had so desperately wanted coffee, wine, and the cigarettes he had quit.

“Wait, can’t I get coffee if I go to the Middle East?”

Cigarettes were out of the question because the Americas were too far for the envoys to go, but the Middle East was still accessible.

Wasn’t Daesikguk (大食國) [historical Chinese name for the Arabian Peninsula] the Arabian Peninsula?

Every year, they carried quite a lot of silk and followed the silk merchants.

Why hadn’t he thought of this? He had to bring coffee beans on this envoy trip.

He laughed.

He had committed an unimaginable act that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine, but coffee was the first thing that came to his mind?

“It seems that the head of the family is also happy about this matter. You’re smiling alone. Haha.”

Goo Seung, who had appeared unnoticed, smiled brightly.

“Heaven has helped. A boy was born not too late. Sit down.”

Jo Gwang-yun poured wine for Goo Seung.

“You also overcame a difficult task well. You’ve worked hard.”

“No, it’s all thanks to the head of the family. All I did was clean up the mess.”

“The most important thing in any task is the finishing touch. You’ve been doing that very well so far. It’s not just empty praise. I mean it.”

“Thank you, head of the family.”

Goo Seung took a refreshing drink.

“By the way, what about that child? It seemed like there was a faint breath attached to it?”

“Are you talking about Yang Ryeo-cheong’s child?”

Jo Gwang-yun nodded.

“Human life is so tenacious. The mother who gave birth to the son was crying because she felt sorry that she couldn’t even breastfeed once, so I held the baby girl and let her breastfeed. The doctor also examined the child and said he couldn’t guarantee what would happen, but she’s still alive.”

“Is it like getting a daughter instead of a son?”

Goo Seung carefully spoke, watching Jo Gwang-yun’s expression as he muttered.

“What should we do with them?”

Jo Gwang-yun knew who Goo Seung was talking about. The mothers and the babies that had already been born, the new lives that would be born in the future, and the doctors.

“What would you like to do?”

“It would be safest to silence them all forever.”

“You know that well, but you’re asking because you don’t want to.”

Goo Seung scratched his head.

“I’ve been mindful of the head of the family’s words that humans who are merely tools should always be kept at a distance… But because I always have to watch over them…”

He was talking about the mothers. Weren’t they poor but innocent women? And even with children. It was natural that he didn’t want to.

“And the mothers seem to have realized that it’s all over now. Everyone seems to be more disappointed that this is over. Because they’ve never lived so well in their lives.”

Jo Gwang-yun thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“If they’re selling their children, then those husbands of those women must all be scum. Those women must be disgusted too. No one will want to go back to such a man again. Send them far away from the capital and manage them.”

Goo Seung’s expression brightened.

“Thank you, head of the family.”

“Thanks for what… I don’t want to kill the mothers and the newborn babies either. But…”

“Yes, I will take care of the doctors.”

He had gathered twenty or so mothers and showed them the strange sight of waiting only for the birth of a son. Moreover, the doctors had directly seen his appearance.

It was too naive to expect that they would never forget the special memory they would never forget and would never talk about it.

Goo Seung, who had completely relieved his burden, asked as he raised his glass.

“Now, all we have to do is wait for the day that child becomes the Crown Prince.”

Jo Gwang-yun only smiled gently without answering.

There was no guarantee that he would become the Emperor just because he became the Crown Prince. Until that child became the Crown Prince and ascended to the throne, he couldn’t even count how many more urgent days like today there would be.

* * *

“I’m sorry for calling you out so late, but it seems like everything will be different tomorrow morning.”

Wi Chung-hyeon offered warm tea, and Jo Gwang-yun held the teacup in his hands, warming his cold hands and smiling.

“Do you need my confirmation?”

“No, tomorrow the Empress will surely call me and shout loudly. What should I answer?”

That was the same thing.

“Lord Wi, now the Emperor has two sons. I guarantee… one of the families of the two sons will be annihilated. And I have no intention of disappearing like that.”

Wi Chung-hyeon’s eyes narrowed at Jo Gwang-yun’s attitude.

“Are you finally revealing your true colors? Why? Did your heart change when you saw your nephew?”

“My wish that my nephew not become the Crown Prince remains unchanged. It means the Crown Prince’s maternal family will be annihilated.”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

Wi Chung-hyeon shouted angrily, but Jo Gwang-yun was still calm.

“Think about the Queen Dowager.”

Wi Chung-hyeon’s face contorted as he only said more incomprehensible things, and he vowed not to be deceived by Jo Gwang-yun’s tongue anymore.

< The Birth of a New Life 3 > End