There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 102

There was no way they could leave someone claiming to be the Retired King’s son standing indefinitely in front of the palace.

Lee Bang-gwa hurriedly ushered the man inside the palace.

We also quickly followed our granduncle into Induk Palace.

There, Queen Kim, the Retired King’s wife, was already glaring at the young man with cold eyes.

“Hmm, this looks like trouble,” Lee Seong-gye muttered.

The Retired King, the Queen, and the young man went into the Retired King’s room.

As we stood there blankly, a court attendant from the Retired King’s residence came running out.

“His Majesty the Grand Retired King and His Highness the Crown Prince, please have some tea in the next room.”

Guided by the court attendant, we moved to the adjacent room.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, I asked Lee Seong-gye, “Do you know who that person is?”

“Of course. That’s Bul-no, your cousin,” Lee Seong-gye said with a stiff face.

“But…”

Even though he was a cousin, he wasn’t among the Retired King’s sons I had ever met.

Also, unlike the cousins who used the ‘Saeng’ character in their names, this young man’s name was Bul-no.

I didn’t know if it was a Buddhist name or something, but it was definitely different.

Just as I was about to voice my questions, my grandaunt’s loud roar erupted from the next room.

“What right do you have to come here! Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble for His Majesty the Retired King!”

In contrast, Bul-no’s voice was calm. “How could I have such intentions? Mother, please don’t be like this.”

“Who are you calling Mother!” Queen Kim rebuked, as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“Why did you come to Seoul instead of quietly practicing asceticism in Jukju [present-day Juksan, Anseong], as your maternal grandmother wished?”

“I heard that the capital had newly moved. Hanyang is where I grew up under my father’s care, and isn’t it a place full of memories? So, I came to share some small stories from those days.”

“Who dares to call him Father!” The Queen’s rebuke poured out like an icy blast.

“No matter how much you deny it, I am His Majesty’s son.”

“…”

“How can I not feel wronged when I cannot call my father, Father? I hope the benevolent Queen will have mercy on me.”

Listening to the conversation next door only deepened my curiosity about the situation.

“What on earth is this story about a son born out of wedlock being kicked out?” I asked Lee Seong-gye, who seemed to know the details.

Usually, I had heard that my grandaunt, because she couldn’t have children, acknowledged and raised even sons born out of wedlock, so why was she so cold to Bul-no alone?

“To have such a fellow… to have such a foolish fellow!” At that moment, the Retired King, who had been listening silently, finally shouted.

“If His Majesty finds out that you came to Hanyang… do you think he will stay still…?”

“Huh?”

Why was my father being brought up here?

As I looked at my grandfather with a questioning expression, Lee Seong-gye sighed deeply and explained, “That guy was originally Bang-gwa’s designated successor.”

Lee Seong-gye’s story was as follows: Bul-no is the Retired King’s son, born out of wedlock.

He was born to Lady Yu of Gaeui Palace, and when the Retired King was still on the throne, her relative Jo Bak brought him to the palace and presented him as the Heir Apparent.

Of course, Lee Bang-won, who had placed his brother on the throne as a figurehead, was furious, and Lee Bang-gwa had no choice but to disown Bul-no under the pretext that he was not his son.

“Heo.”

I never knew there was such a hidden story. It’s amazing that he didn’t die after interfering with Kill Bang-won’s path to power.

“Why… did you come to Hanyang…?”

“I want to be recognized as His Majesty’s son,” Bul-no said, but Lee Bang-gwa snorted.

“It’s already a settled story… no way… tell me the real reason…”

As if he expected that they wouldn’t listen to him in the first place, Bul-no smoothly transitioned to another matter.

“I’m trying to relieve the sorrow of being cut off from my father by drinking alcohol and making friends, but my financial situation is not good. Please help me, Your Majesty.”

“What happened to the money you took last time that you shamelessly ask the Retired King again?” My grandaunt asked in a sharp voice.

“How can you say I’m shameless? Even if I used some money, how can you compare it to the various lands my younger siblings received? I heard that even young children born to concubines are making a lot of money with the Crown Prince’s salt [a government monopoly on salt production and distribution] and spending lavishly, but the money I got is not even a tenth of that.”

“Hmm…” Lee Bang-gwa still seemed displeased and trailed off.

Bul-no, becoming impatient, spoke as if driving in a wedge, “If that’s the case, I will not come to Hanyang in the future, and I will keep silent about my lineage.”

“Do you think he will really give him money?” I whispered to Lee Seong-gye.

Lee Seong-gye looked at the ceiling without answering and sighed deeply.

Soon, the Retired King opened his mouth. “Naesubyeoljwa [official in charge of royal household finances], come in.”

Byeoljwa was a rank of Jong 5 Pum [a bureaucratic rank] that managed the royal family’s property.

A creaking sound was heard from the next room, and someone entered. It seemed to be an official from Naesubyeoljwa.

Bul-no laughed heartily and said, “Thank you always.”

“Now, never come to Hanyang again to find the Retired King.”

“I’ll think about it.”

It was almost at the same time that Bul-no and I left the room. We faced each other on the floor and stared at each other for a moment.

Bul-no whistled and stepped over the threshold first. A silver bottle, which seemed to have been received from the Retired King, was dangling from his waist.

“Don’t you know how to greet His Highness the Crown Prince even after seeing him?” No-bun stepped forward, enraged.

Since he might be the Retired King’s son, it was difficult to treat him carelessly, so he spoke respectfully, but the tone was by no means pleasant.

“I’m sorry. Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Even though he said that, his tone was still impudent.

“Your Highness, shall I step in?”

“Hold on, No-bun.” I waved my hand and replied.

Of course, if I used the Crown Prince’s power, it would be easy to shut Bul-no up. I could even slaughter him so that he couldn’t even open his mouth.

‘But I shouldn’t do that.’

Although he was an impudent man, if I made a big deal out of it, that man would have no choice but to die.

It was not a big deal to catch and kill such a fake monk, but Lee Seong-gye and Lee Bang-gwa were both too tired of seeing the blood of their relatives.

“I am very happy to see Your Highness the Crown Prince like this. Your Highness’s reputation is well known even in distant Jukju.”

“Well, I guess so.”

“I am truly envious. The whole country is helping you in every way, so you can spread your wings to your heart’s content. I am the Retired King’s son, but I have no choice but to live quietly and hide.”

“Do you think that the achievements I have made are only because I am the Crown Prince of this country?”

To Bul-no, who remembered being raised as the Heir Apparent in the palace, it might seem that I had taken this position of Crown Prince from him.

“How could that be? I just heard that His Majesty, like a tiger, has attached many excellent talents to you. If such people assist you, anyone can do it.”

Bul-no’s eyes were burning fiercely.

“What nonsense.”

Whether you turn it over or throw it, it’s all the same [meaning: whatever you do, it’s useless].

“Hey, No-bun. Catch him,” I said casually.

No-bun stepped forward as if he had been waiting, and the tiger-like guards firmly grabbed Bul-no’s arms.

“I’ve been listening and listening, but your tone is extremely presumptuous. Give him some education.”

The guards twisted Bul-no’s arms, threw him to the ground, and began to beat him as I had ordered.

“Argh! Argh!”

I was listening to him nicely, but who was he talking back to?

If he had achieved his purpose, he should have quietly gone back to his neighborhood and lived as a good-for-nothing as he had been doing.

Well, since he was so reckless, he must have come to Hanyang while Lee Bang-won was glaring at him.

“Only make him half crippled and send him out.”

I shook my head as if I was pathetic and entered the Retired King’s room.

Then I saw the Retired King and Queen lying down, greatly heartbroken.

“Is that Bul-no always so reckless?” The Queen weakly nodded her head.

“It wasn’t just once or twice.”

“At first, his mother, Lady Yu of Gaeui Palace, gave him money and sent him, but now he even comes to the Retired King and acts violently. He must be doing this because he knows we can’t do anything about it,” my grandaunt replied.

“What can we do? His Majesty the Retired King believes he is his son. We can’t just kill him…” Lee Bang-gwa, who was lying on his side, coughed.

Even so, he meant that he couldn’t kill his own child.

“His attitude towards me, the Crown Prince, was very disrespectful, so I took care of it on my own. Is that okay?”

“Yes, that child is a bit like that,” my grandaunt held my hand tightly and said.

“But please don’t tell His Majesty the King. This is our couple’s share to bear. Can you do that?”

“Yes, since Mama asked me, I won’t bother to tell you, but…” I opened my eyes slightly and said, “Does Abamama [father] really not know?”

===

“To be so disrespectful to the Crown Prince, that lowly guy must have guts.”

As expected, this could not have escaped Lee Bang-won’s ears. As soon as I returned to the palace, I was summoned by Lee Bang-won.

“Even if he were a member of the royal family, this is an unforgivable act of treason, but how dare a bastard whose lineage is unclear do such a thing? I didn’t drag him to the Uigeumbu [a high court] out of consideration for the Retired King’s face, but he’s begging to be killed!”

I calmed Lee Bang-won, who was more angry than necessary.

“Although he is said to be the Retired King’s son, he has been disowned for a long time. No matter what he says, not a single hair will be damaged from Abamama’s authority.”

“That’s not the problem. How dare he insult my son?”

Ah, was that the reason?

Lee Bang-won was furious, but I barely appeased my father because of the Retired King and Queen’s request.

“Leave him alone. Isn’t he destined to live like a good-for-nothing and die?”

“If Hyungnim [older brother] wasn’t here, I would have sent him into exile somewhere, but since he still believes he is Hyungnim’s child, I can’t do that,” Lee Bang-won said as if he couldn’t get rid of his anger.

“I will try to come up with a way. We can’t just keep giving him money and sending him away.”

“Yes, you are truly a lucky charm,” Lee Bang-won sighed and shook his head.

“For a mere fake monk to call himself a prince, it’s embarrassing for the royal family. Is this a family?”

“…”

This family really has a passive skill of double standards.

“He seemed to be resentful that he was deprived of the throne that was originally his.”

“Hmph.” Lee Bang-won snorted.

“That guy is just a good-for-nothing. The only people he hangs out with are entertainers, shamans, prostitutes, and renegade monks. It’s just an excuse to get alcohol money from the Retired King.”

“That’s true. But he probably believes that it’s genuine.”

And Bul-no wouldn’t be the only one with such complaints.

Lee Bang-won seemed to have noticed the implication of my words and said, “So, you still haven’t changed your mind about appointing members of the royal family to official positions?”

“It’s strange not to use them if they have the will and ability. Abamama also knows that Do is no ordinary person, doesn’t he?”

“The royal family is a double-edged sword,” Lee Bang-won said.

“I raised an army under the pretext of Jeong Do-jeon’s disbandment of private soldiers. And after killing him, I turned the blade and took away all the private soldiers of the royal family. There is only one way for the king to rule the royal family.”

Lee Bang-won grabbed my hand and clenched his fist tightly. “The king must hold all the power. If you want to use the royal family, you must first take away their power.”

He continued quietly. “Only then will they bow their heads in gratitude when you give them small authority. Do you really have the ability to do that?”

“You won’t know unless you try,” I answered confidently.

Then Lee Bang-won’s eyes lit up. “If you can perfectly control the royal family, you will be qualified to step one foot into this throne.”

“What should I do?”

“Do you know who is the richest landowner in this country?” Lee Bang-won asked.

“It’s Prince Uian (義安大君),” I replied.

Prince Uian, Lee Hwa, was Lee Seong-gye’s half-brother, a meritorious subject of the founding of the country, a meritorious subject of Jeongsa, and a meritorious subject of Jwamyeong [titles awarded for service to the state].

Lee Bang-won pointed to him.

End

ⓒ Pitkong