There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 132

‘The Prince of Han is impetuous, and the Prince of Zhao is shallow.’

The Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di, sharply assessed his sons.

It seemed harsh at first glance, but it was a statement that pierced through their very essence.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince’s benevolence was not a particularly pleasing element to him either.

In the Yongle Emperor’s eyes, the Crown Prince was merely a weak and foolish fat man.

In a situation where there was no successor he particularly liked, the Joseon’s Crown Prince presented a new perspective.

“Indeed, you have seen through my worries.”

Although he was only a five-year-old grandson, the Yongle Emperor knew that this child’s talent was remarkable.

Of course, it was an assessment half mixed with personal feelings.

How much could that young grandson have shown of his royal talent?

But the problem was that it was an answer that perfectly pleased the Yongle Emperor.

‘Moreover, it doesn’t challenge the rigid primogeniture succession [the system where the eldest son inherits everything].’

The Yongle Emperor himself was a figure who had overthrown the eldest grandson of Taejo and ascended to the throne, so he didn’t particularly have such thoughts.

The capable should rightfully take the world, and primogeniture succession was a matter for later.

However, Yi Je’s words, recommending a successor based solely on the qualities of the grandson, shook the Yongle Emperor’s heart.

‘It wouldn’t be good if the one to succeed the King of Joseon is too smart.’

“Indeed, as you said, the Joseon Crown Prince is bright.”

The Yongle Emperor, who had been reassessing Yi Je’s capabilities, suddenly turned to Hwang Eom, who was prostrating himself.

“It is truly fortunate that my humble insight has been understood. I am relieved by Your Majesty’s clear discernment.”

Hwang Eom had no idea what kind of conversation he had with the Joseon Crown Prince that made the Yongle Emperor say that, but he answered quietly for now.

If he didn’t answer like that, it was obvious that he would reveal his eccentricity and impose ‘sanctions’ at any moment.

However, Hwang Eom’s expectations were spectacularly wrong.

“Relief, relief, you say.”

The Yongle Emperor frowned and asked.

“Is it a relief that the Joseon Crown Prince is bright?”

Hwang Eom was taken aback when Zhu Di suddenly changed his attitude and scolded him like that.

“If, if so?”

Did he have to threaten the King of Joseon to depose the Crown Prince right away?

However, although the Yongle Emperor was a gangster, he wasn’t so lacking in common sense.

“We must put a leash on him.”

The Yongle Emperor said to Hwang Eom.

“A leash, Your Majesty?”

“Didn’t the Yuan Dynasty rule Goryeo that way? If we become one family, we can live affectionately following the etiquette of an elder and younger relative (father-in-law and son-in-law).”

Hwang Eom did not believe that the emperor in front of him was such a sentimental human being.

There was nothing more absurd than a man who stole his nephew’s throne talking about being in the same family.

So, Hwang Eom understood that Zhu Di was trying to send a *Huabian* [Han Chinese] princess to make Joseon a son-in-law state.

It wasn’t strange.

Even if you didn’t go as far as the Yuan Dynasty, there were marriage talks with Ming when Yi Bang-seok was the Crown Prince.

However, Hwang Eom pondered for a moment.

“But there is no suitable person among the princesses, is there?”

It certainly wasn’t that Zhu Di didn’t have any daughters.

The Yongle Emperor had five daughters.

However, there was no one new to marry off.

Even the youngest, Princess Changning, was seven years older than the Joseon Crown Prince, and even she had married Mu Xin, the son of Mu Ying, the Marquis of Xiping, last year.

“That’s something that can be solved by adopting a prince’s daughter and making her a princess to marry her off.”

It wasn’t uncommon.

Except for King Chungnyeol, who married Princess Jeguk Daejang, the youngest daughter of Yuan Sejo Kublai, all the kings of Goryeo married daughters of relatives.

Formally, it was in the form of being adopted as the daughter of the Great Khan.

Hwang Eom nodded.

“Indeed, it would be a waste to give a noble direct line princess of the imperial family to Joseon.”

Hwang Eom flattered him like that, but that wasn’t the only reason.

Since its founding, the Ming Dynasty has married princesses into families with no power and humble backgrounds.

This was to prevent the sons-in-law from increasing their power.

Even if a princess is sent to a foreign country, it should be a child far from the direct line of the imperial family.

It was a kind of fraud, but once the marriage was concluded, even if Joseon noticed, how dare they protest?

‘It can’t be helped if the King of Joseon notices in advance and refuses.’

If it doesn’t work out, that’s it.

For the Yongle Emperor, it was an order given with a light heart, but Hwang Eom took it as a meaning that he must accomplish it.

“I will serve with loyalty!”

The Yongle Emperor stroked his cheek as he quietly looked down at Hwang Eom, who was filled with enthusiasm after taking on an important mission.

“Ah, and.”

The Yongle Emperor said in a passing tone.

“The Joseon envoys gave red ginseng to several high-ranking officials, but is there any way to get it back?”

It was such a calm tone that Hwang Eom seemed to have been careless without realizing it.

“If we try to take back what we have already received, there will be considerable backlash, so should we just wait for the next tribute······.”

Before Hwang Eom could finish his words, the Yongle Emperor’s face hardened.

Hwang Eom’s intuition sent a warning signal, but it was already too late.

The scepter that the Yongle Emperor was holding flew through the air once again.

“Sanctions, sanctions! Useless fellow!”

‘I’m going crazy.’

Today, Hwang Eom was feeling like he was going crazy at his lord’s unpredictable words and actions.

===

The Yongle Emperor seemed quite pleased with the praise of the grandson, and ordered him to enter the palace to strengthen his relationship with the grandson.

It was a good opportunity to make a mark on the next emperor of Ming if he did well, but I wasn’t very keen.

‘It’s just playing with a baby.’

The problem was that the baby was a human being with a higher status than me.

‘There was no one higher than me in Joseon.’

At best, it would be the King Emeritus and the Queen Emeritus couple, and my parents.

My head was too thick to play along with a child’s whims.

‘And how active the kid is.’

A child’s activity is beyond imagination, and soon I was exhausted.

‘In times like this, it’s time to pass the buck.’

“Chungnyeong.”

“Yes?”

“You’re about the same age as the Grandson, so you’ll get along well. Play with him diligently.”

“Ah, hyung, how can you do this······.”

I quickly slipped away without even hearing an answer.

‘I feel like I’m going to live.’

I feel a little clearer after being out in the cold wind.

‘The scenery is also good.’

When it comes to the Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace, what comes to my mind is only the Forbidden City in Beijing, but this Nanjing Imperial Palace was also quite large.

So, it was enjoyable just to see the scale of the continent.

But the problem is still.

It was too wide.

“Damn it, where the hell is this?”

Did I walk for about 10 minutes?

I had only walked that far, but I was surrounded by buildings I didn’t know where I was.

‘I should have brought a guide (eunuch)!’

I was going to go back the way I came, but I had to know where it was.

I was squatting down, tearing at my hair, and regretting it late.

Just then, I saw an eunuch walking from afar.

‘That’s good. I should ask where the exit is.’

I was about to get up when it happened.

Suddenly, a hand like a fern pressed down on my head.

“Huh?”

“Shh, be quiet. Do you want to get caught?”

What, get caught?

By whom?

While the mysterious hand blocked me, the eunuch I was trying to ask for help just passed by far away.

I was dumbfounded and turned around.

Then, a cute-looking girl was standing with her arms crossed, glaring at me.

I guess she’s about my age.

“Who are you?”

That’s what I should be saying.

‘Is she a court lady serving here?’

That’s good.

Let’s ask her for directions.

Then, she opened her mouth again.

“Are you a new one? This is a place where men are not allowed to enter. If I hadn’t saved you earlier, you would have been severely punished. So get out of here quickly.”

Damn it.

Was this the inner palace (內宮) [the private living quarters of the Emperor’s consorts and female servants]?

I don’t know, but a bewildered expression must have been evident on my face.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

When she asked, stomping her feet, I wondered if I should honestly confess that I was lost.

But I didn’t feel like opening my mouth and answering right now.

Even if I received intensive Chinese education, my pronunciation wouldn’t be like a native speaker.

‘If she notices something strange and screams.’

If I reveal my identity, there might be a diplomatic problem because I invaded the inner palace without permission.

Perhaps she took my silence as something else, the girl tilted her head and asked.

“Hey, are you mute?”

“······.”

“Are you mute? Well, I’ve heard that they sometimes use people who can’t speak as servants. Then follow me.”

Unable to stand it, she suddenly grabbed my sleeve and pulled me.

A floral scent wafted over me as she grabbed my sleeve.

‘I feel like I’m going to sneeze.’

Avoiding the eyes of the adults, we walked for a long time.

The girl, who had been silently dragging me, stopped somewhere and let go of my sleeve with a thud.

“This should be enough. Now, go outside.”

Indeed, there was a door leading out of the inner palace.

Then, I nodded readily and opened my mouth.

“Oh, okay, thanks. Goodbye.”

“What, what?”

The girl widened her eyes when I greeted her.

“You, you could talk?”

“Of course.”

I just kept my mouth shut so as not to reveal my accent.

‘I didn’t lie.’

She just misunderstood on her own.

But the girl’s face turned red as if she felt betrayed.

However, there was nothing the girl could do.

‘Since I’m already out, I can just deny that I ever went in.’

“Well, then, goodbye. Thanks for the guidance.”

I was about to turn around when it happened.

“Wait!”

A shrill voice rang in my ears.

“Who are you?”

Only then did she notice something strange, and she grabbed my arm and clung to it.

“Let go. I’m busy.”

It was about time for Chungnyeong to be grinding his teeth, looking for his missing brother.

It’s hard to appease him once he gets sulky, even though he’s an old man.

“You’ll be in trouble if people hear that a court lady met a strange man, right? Just pretend you don’t know and go in quietly.”

I sincerely advised her like that, but she didn’t stay still.

“Guards!”

===

Even though things have turned out this way, I wasn’t flustered.

I don’t know if it was when I was inside the inner palace, but now there was nothing to be afraid of.

“Gasp!”

Indeed, the royal guards who heard the sound discovered me and rushed over in great surprise.

‘Of course.’

Because they found the Crown Prince of Joseon here.

I thought it would be over as soon as the guards got rid of this annoying girl, but soon an unexpected thing happened.

“Your Highness, Princess!”

“Your Highness, Princess Jang!”

“Princess?”

I tilted my head.

Am I just feeling weak these days?

I must have misheard?

“I’m not a princess, but a prince······.”

But the guards passed me and headed to the girl.

“Imperial sister (皇妹) [term of address for a princess], what’s going on?”

‘Ah, I’m screwed.’

I could tell what was going on when I saw the royal guards kneeling respectfully in front of the girl.

“I have discovered an intruder here!”

At least she didn’t say she found me in the inner palace.

That was fortunate for me.

“I’ll ask you one more time. Who are you?”

“Her Highness the Princess is asking! Why can’t you answer quickly!”

The guards shouted, scolding me.

I can’t believe there’s no one working in the imperial palace who recognized me.

It seemed like I had to overcome this crisis myself.

I took a step forward with dignity.

I could see even the sturdy guards flinching and backing away at my confident attitude.

“If you ask who I am, it’s human nature to answer.”

I said, spreading out my neat white robe (白衣) [traditional Korean scholar’s garment].

“I am Yi Je (李褆), the Crown Prince of the Great Joseon and the idol of all Joseon people.”

I confidently revealed my identity.

‘How about that, are you surprised?’

The person who was thought to be an intruder into the imperial palace is the noble prince of Joseon.

This was a reversal of the situation.

No matter how much of a princess of Ming she is, she must have heard of the name of Joseon, the number one tributary state.

She won’t bother me anymore.

Indeed, the princess looked at me and said.

“Hmm, is that so?”

Princess Bogeong raised her chin and said.

“I heard that barbarians came in to offer tribute, so it was you guys?”

The expressions of the people around her hardened.

I was the same.

‘Is this bitch crazy?’

End

ⓒ Pitkong