There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 140

The prospect of a royal marriage, brought forth by the delegation, immediately captivated the court.

However, all decision-making in Joseon rested in the hands of the shrewd Lee Bang-won, especially when it concerned family matters.

“Your Majesty, there are several points to consider regarding the marriage with the princess,” said Kwon Geun, who had returned as an envoy to the court. Lee Bang-won nodded.

“I am aware.”

Lee Seong-gye was grumbling beside him, saying, “Am I supposed to see Zhu Yuanzhang’s [the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming Dynasty] daughter as my grandson’s wife!” but that could be ignored for now.

‘Originally, the Grand King [Lee Seong-gye] was pushing for Bang-seok’s marriage.’

Nine years prior, when Lee Bang-seok was still alive, Zhu Yuanzhang had proposed a marriage alliance, and Lee Seong-gye had even reported it to the Jongmyo Shrine [royal ancestral shrine].

It goes without saying that if that marriage had taken place, I would not be sitting here.

My half-brother would have had the strong backing of the Ming Dynasty.

‘Yes, that’s exactly the point.’

He wanted to give his son the strongest legitimacy and foundation possible.

So, if marrying the emperor’s daughter in a state marriage would help his son’s reign in the future, there was no reason not to do it.

However, there would have been a bigger disadvantage than that.

‘Why do I keep the in-laws in check? It is to prevent anyone from coveting the power of this country.’

But if that in-law becomes the Ming Dynasty…

Looking at the former Goryeo Dynasty, it became a vassal state of the Yuan Dynasty and suffered all kinds of interference.

If the princess of the suzerain state committed atrocities, or tried to interfere in Joseon’s national affairs in alliance with her parents’ home, there could be nothing worse.

Secondly, there was the question of whether the other party was truly the emperor’s daughter.

If they brought a mere relative of the royal family and presented her as the precious daughter of the royal family, it would mean taking on all the disadvantages of the state marriage while gaining none of the advantages.

“Among the emperor’s daughters, is there anyone who is the right age for our Crown Prince?”

So, when Lee Bang-won asked, Kwon Geun bowed his head and replied,

“Even the youngest daughter is seven years older than His Highness the Crown Prince, and even she has been married off for a long time.”

“Then they will bring a daughter of a prince.”

Lee Bang-won said, displeased.

It seemed that he could clearly see Emperor Yongle’s intentions.

Lee Bang-won gnashed his teeth.

The face of the emperor, who was plotting behind the scenes after forcing him to choose between the Annam dispatch and the state marriage, was vivid in his mind.

Lee Bang-won acknowledged his schemes and military talent, but if it was directed at him, he could never be played with.

Then Kwon Geun said,

“However, the emperor’s youngest sister, the Imperial Sister [a term for a paternal aunt of the Emperor], is the same age as His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“The Imperial Sister?”

Lee Bang-won asked.

How old was he when he had a sibling that was still the same age as his son?

But as he clicked his tongue, Lee Seong-gye, who was sitting there, had seen Ongju [another term for a royal daughter] just a few years ago.

So Lee Bang-won just shut his mouth.

“And His Highness the Crown Prince formed a relationship with the Imperial Sister during this visit to the court, so this is heaven helping our royal family.”

Kwon Geun said exaggeratedly.

“Wouldn’t the silver mirror that the princess gave as a token of affection have saved His Highness’s life this time?”

“Wait, what nonsense is that?”

Lee Seong-gye heard Kwon Geun’s words and asked, sounding like he could not let it pass.

“Surely the arrow was blocked by the thunderbolt wood I handed over?”

“However, among the delegation, it is rumored that the princess’s silver mirror protected His Highness.”

Most of the delegation knew about the connection between the Crown Prince and the princess.

It wasn’t like the Crown Prince was keeping it a secret, and those who hadn’t directly witnessed the two people’s meeting were exaggerating each other’s imaginations by passing it from mouth to mouth.

Among them, the story that the silver mirror given by the princess saved the Crown Prince’s life was very romantic, so the people who had been on the mission firmly believed it.

“No, there’s no such thing! This grandfather saved his grandson’s life! It’s my merit, my merit!”

“Is that so? But even if you say that…”

Kwon Geun shrank back.

Kwon Geun, who was in charge of the delegation in place of the Crown Prince, also knew it wrong, so it was obvious that such rumors had already spread widely in the delegation.

Even the Liaodong officials who accompanied him must have heard it that way.

“That damned monk is tormenting me even in death!”

Lee Seong-gye’s face turned red.

Lee Bang-won stopped Lee Seong-gye, who seemed to be bursting with anger, and said,

“Oh… you had such a thing with the Imperial Sister?”

He doesn’t know if the emperor knows this.

Even if Princess Jang had feelings for the Crown Prince, she would have moved to avoid the eyes of others.

It is not easy to deceive the emperor’s eyes, but… surprisingly, when you go to that position, there are many things you don’t know.

“Are you thinking of having this state marriage?”

“There are many things at stake, aren’t there?”

There was the Annam dispatch, the Palcham problem [a region with rebellious tendencies], and various political circumstances were also intertwined.

If we can bring the Imperial Sister, it will be a winning move that can get rid of the disadvantages and reap only the benefits.

“We’ll have to move secretly.”

Lee Bang-won said with a smirk.

===

As soon as I returned to Hanyang, I was immediately confined to the East Palace [the residence of the Crown Prince].

“I’ve finally returned to the Underworld Palace.”

I hated this name and only called it the East Palace, but being trapped here was no different from being in the underworld.

“Did you handle everything well?”

Hwang-hee took charge of the aftermath of the returning delegation.

It involved bringing pigs and sheep to Yeouido to raise them, and settling the Ortog merchants who followed the delegation in the area where the Huihui people [Muslims] lived.

Even thinking about it was terribly annoying, but being trapped like this, I thought it would be better to take on such a task.

So I grabbed my innocent brother and started talking to him.

“Do-ya.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“Is it fun?”

The book he was reading was called Yebuunryak [Rhyme Book of the Ministry of Rites].

Was it a rhyme book written by a person named Jeongdo in the Song Dynasty?

“After talking with the Ming scholars, they recommended this book, saying it would be helpful if I was interested in phonology.”

“Oh, really?”

I nodded, thinking that he hadn’t just been playing around in Ming.

I wasn’t the only one who bought books when I went to Ming Dynasty.

I didn’t pay attention to it because I thought it wasn’t very practical, but he seemed to have collected these books.

As I flipped through books such as Jungwoneumun [Phonology of the Central Plain] and Hongmujeongeun [Correct Rhymes of the Hongwu Era] piled up next to me because I was bored, my eyes spun around.

‘What’s so fun about reading this?’

I couldn’t understand it with my head, but it would be okay if my brother was having fun.

I shook my head and left the East Palace.

It was time to tackle the tasks I had put off.

===

The reason why I wasn’t scolded much when I came back was entirely due to Lee Bang-won’s arrangement.

He told my mother the news after my return so that the pregnant Queen Wongyeong wouldn’t be shocked.

That’s why I was able to face a calmer Queen Wongyeong.

– Flash!

‘Ah, no.’

Looking at her sharp eyes, I realized that thought was a mistake.

As soon as she saw me, Queen Wongyeong screamed.

“You!”

“Mother, it’s been a while.”

“You’ve been making me worry sick and you’re so calm… Ugh…!”

Her hand went up, but she still couldn’t hit my back.

I knew what her red face meant.

‘It means it’s not good for prenatal care, right?’

I have a younger sibling in my womb, so I have to be careful.

That’s a relief.

My younger sibling, who hasn’t even been born yet, is saving me several times.

I took advantage of the brief gap and made excuses to Queen Wongyeong.

“It was all necessary, Mother! I won’t go out for a while now. I’ll be right next to you, so don’t worry.”

“Keueung…”

Since she had to force herself to calm down because of prenatal care, my mother eventually stopped talking.

“You must be uncomfortable, should I rub your shoulders?”

The belly that wasn’t even visible before I left was now quite swollen.

The delivery was approaching.

“Ugh, who did he take after to be so cunning…”

“Who else would a child take after but his mother?”

“If you can’t even say it right!”

I rubbed my mother’s shoulders and hurriedly changed the subject.

Even to a topic that Queen Wongyeong would be interested in.

“Mother, I’ve noticed that most women in Ming Dynasty can read.”

“…Really?”

As expected, my words caught Queen Wongyeong’s attention.

“We call our country a country of civilization, but we have neglected women’s education since ancient times. Isn’t this a shameful thing? It would be good to take the example of a great country at this time.”

Queen Wongyeong is a rare heroine in this era.

She was also the daughter of the great scholar Minje, so she understood exactly what I meant.

“Are you saying that I should promote it at the women’s association?”

“Yes. Isn’t it a shameful thing for a daughter of a noble family to not be able to read? You should promote gathering the daughters of noble families at the women’s association and educating them.”

“Hmm.”

Women cannot take the civil service examination or enter government service, but reading itself cannot be said to be completely useless.

The standard of a wise mother and good wife is to manage the affairs of the family and educate the children well.

If you can read, it is quite advantageous here, so it was not strange that my mother was worried.

In the first place, women’s rights in this era were a little more free than in the later period.

‘If the women’s association teaches the daughters of noble families, their influence will increase even more.’

Queen Wongyeong would not have missed this point.

However, Queen Wongyeong suddenly looked at me and asked.

“Did you hear that story from that girl?”

My mother grabbed my wrist and asked.

“What girl?”

I asked, bewildered.

“I’m talking about that Ming Dynasty princess! Otherwise, how would you know whether Ming Dynasty women can read or not?”

No, how did my mother know this?

I don’t remember leaking it here and there enough for rumors to spread.

Then my consciousness reached someone.

‘It’s Chungnyeong!’

My brother was watching from the side, so he knew all about what kind of meetings I was having.

How could there be such a talkative guy?

As expected, Queen Wongyeong confirmed this.

“Chungnyeong said that the princess was so rude that she couldn’t be used. Are you perhaps harboring other thoughts?”

“Hey, that’s because my mother doesn’t know her well. When I found out, she was a nice kid.”

Then Queen Wongyeong glared at me.

“Are you already not listening to your mother and taking the princess’s side? How can I be at ease like this!”

“Yes?”

No, why is it interpreted that way?

Queen Wongyeong complained as if she were a mother-in-law who was upset that her son didn’t take her side and took her daughter-in-law’s side.

“Besides, if the Ming Dynasty princess comes in as my daughter-in-law, will this mother be able to act like a master?”

Queen Wongyeong has lived her whole life as the daughter of a prestigious family and the queen of a country.

There has never been a woman of higher status than her.

She wouldn’t want someone who could threaten her position to come in.

Especially since she heard that the princess’s personality was not ordinary.

‘Still, why are you counting your chickens before they hatch?’

Princess Bogyung probably just regarded me as her only friend and showed me kindness.

However, Queen Wongyeong did not listen to me.

“As long as I’m alive, she listens well and is easygoing…”

That’s what a real mother-in-law would want from her daughter-in-law.

I sighed deeply.

“I’m still young, what state marriage are you talking about?”

“Your father already took in several concubines, saying he had many sons. You can’t trust men’s words.”

‘Oh my, I can’t say anything.’

It seems that deep-rooted distrust has already been planted in the men of our family.

“There won’t be anything like that.”

I said that to appease my mother, but

I couldn’t help but worry about the silver mirror in my arms.

End

ⓒ Pitkong