There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 182

Originally, meeting the princess wasn’t in my plans.

“Even so, she’s a princess from a foreign land. If I go all the way to Uiju to meet her, wouldn’t that be seen as lowering the country’s prestige?”

When I said that, Hwang Hee, who was standing beside me, suddenly exclaimed.

“I understand Your Highness’s concern for the country. But how can we dissuade you when we know how deeply you care for her?”

‘Is this guy serious?’

He’s openly mocking me with a smile.

“Marriage is the most important event in human relations, so when Your Highness’s partner arrives, you should naturally go to meet her in person!”

“It’s customary for the groom to go to the bride’s house for the wedding, so going to Uiju is hardly an excessive courtesy!”

Since the officials insisted so strongly, I had no choice.

It was unexpected that Yi Seong-gye came along.

“I heard that King Taejo [Yi Seong-gye’s posthumous title] is unwell. Is it alright for you to travel so far to meet her?”

Because of Yi Seong-gye’s senility show the last time, rumors had spread in Ming China, so it was a natural question.

“Our grandfather cherishes his new granddaughter-in-law so much that he insisted on coming along, haha!”

I barely managed to gloss over it, but I was also curious.

‘Why did he come?’

The question was answered a little later.

“This thunderbolt peach wood – it’s what saved that guy’s life. Thanks to my foresight, I told him to carry it around, and sure enough, it blocked that wicked guy’s arrow. Do you understand?”

Yi Seong-gye said, shaking the thunderbolt peach wood, split by an arrow, in front of Huangmei [Princess Bokyeong’s given name].

“?”

Zhu Suohua’s eyes widened.

Then Yi Seong-gye slapped his forehead.

“Ah, she can’t understand Korean. Then the interpreter should translate. What saved this guy’s life wasn’t some damned silver mirror, but this…”

“I understand a little. I learned it from the maids who are from Joseon.”

Zhu Suohua spoke in fairly fluent Korean.

She seemed to have learned it very diligently; it didn’t sound awkward.

“Then you heard everything I said? Then admit it cleanly.”

“I believe in fate.”

Zhu Suohua said, folding her hands over her chest.

“Surely my mother in heaven helped me. To avoid ominous things for Yi…”

Yi Seong-gye’s face turned red and blue.

“Just like a bandit’s daughter!”

“Hush, others are listening.”

I hurriedly stopped Yi Seong-gye.

It was fortunate that his Northeast accent was so strong that it was hard to understand.

What if those Ming interpreters over there had been listening carefully?

But Yi Seong-gye only lamented at my reaction.

“Aigo [an expression of frustration], I raised my grandson like gold and jade, but he’s completely useless! He’s so engrossed with his wife that he doesn’t even think about avenging his grandfather’s injustice.”

“What are you saying, like a mother-in-law?”

Isn’t a grandfather-in-law supposed to love his granddaughter-in-law?

Well, there’s no use expecting Yi Seong-gye to play that ordinary grandfather-in-law role.

Yi Seong-gye grabbed the thunderbolt peach wood again and shouted.

“Look closely, can you see? This is the mark where that Yangmoktapol’s arrow hit.”

“Is that important? What’s important is that our hearts are connected.”

…When will we arrive in Hanyang [the capital of Joseon]?

I want to go home soon.

===

It wasn’t just Yi Seong-gye who was troubled by the princess’s arrival.

The palace was bustling with wedding preparations, but the atmosphere in Queen Wongyeong Min’s room was subdued.

“I so disapproved of this marriage…”

Wasn’t he a child who never listened since he was young?

‘A princess from a great country must have a lot of pride. How ridiculous will she think of her mother-in-law?’

The fierce and cruel appearance of the daughter-in-law that Chungnyeongdaegun [King Sejong’s title before ascending the throne] had described came to mind.

‘She definitely said she was arrogant and treated Joseon as a whole like barbarians.’

I thought I had easily defeated Hyobin, but I didn’t expect a princess from a great country to rise up from under my feet.

Unlike Hyobin, who was of low status, wasn’t this daughter-in-law of much higher status than herself?

“But this is Joseon. No matter how much of a princess she is, she cannot violate the strict laws between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law! You must never be intimidated! Don’t even try to be friendly!”

She shouted, looking back at the three women sitting next to her.

She had called and seated Princess Jeongsun and Princess Gyeongjeong, who were already married, and even Princess Gyeongan.

They were the older sisters of the Crown Prince Yi Je, and the sisters-in-law of the newly arriving daughter-in-law.

“…”

Leaving aside her daughters, who were looking at each other as if they were in trouble, Queen Wongyeong calmly reviewed the plan.

‘The power of royal women comes from those they command. I will exercise the authority of the Inner Court to disperse all the Ming-born palace women and have Joseon maids take over.’

Take advantage of the fact that she’s just married and confused to cut off her influence first.

To prevent the misfortune of surrendering the command of the Inner Court to the great country’s princess.

That was the pride of this country’s queen.

“The Great Ming Dynasty’s Princess Bokyeong is entering!”

“She’s here!”

Queen Wongyeong shouted.

But before she could muster her fighting spirit, Zhu Suohua came running up.

“Hello, Mother.”

Princess Bokyeong said, bowing politely.

“Mother…?”

Queen Wongyeong narrowed her eyebrows at the affectionate tone.

‘Huh.’

Queen Wongyeong quickly regained her senses.

Is this a cunning strategy to wear the mask of a docile daughter-in-law and ease her vigilance?

But Zhu Suohua fidgeted with her fingers and said.

“I lost my mother early. Before leaving Ming China, the Empress Mama, whom I served like a mother, also passed away, so I was very lonely.”

Then Zhu Suohua grabbed Queen Wongyeong’s hand.

“So I want to think of you as my own mother and serve you…”

Zhu Suohua said, lowering her eyes.

“Would that be alright?”

“Uh…”

Queen Wongyeong was taken aback by the unexpected blow.

She tried to show the magnanimity of a mother-in-law.

“Ah, why wouldn’t it be alright? Since we’ve formed a bond as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there’s nothing better. Treat these three princesses here like your own sisters.”

“Mother, that’s different from what you said earlier…”

“Shh, sister.”

The three sisters-in-law exchanged glances for a moment and then awkwardly greeted her.

Zhu Suohua also greeted them kindly.

Then she said.

“I get lonely easily, so it might take some time for me to adjust to Joseon. In the meantime, can I keep the maids who originally served me?”

“Of course, only if Mother allows it…”

‘She’s asking for my permission?’

“Do… as you wish.”

Of course, Princess Bokyeong was also Queen Wongyeong’s first daughter-in-law.

Queen Wongyeong, who had been imagining a daughter-in-law who looked down on her mother-in-law, nodded her head without realizing it at the submissive attitude.

“Ah, thank you, Mother!”

Zhu Suohua shouted, jumping for joy.

The three sisters-in-law just stared blankly at their mother’s face.

===

“You brought more wedding gifts than you deserved.”

Yi Bang-won said with a smirk.

“The Emperor must have hated being looked down upon.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

We’re thankful.

The gifts, which were said to be several times more than what he gave when his own daughter got married, went straight into my private funds.

“That’s not all; we have to see a face we’re not happy to see again.”

Yi Bang-won frowned slightly.

Hwang Eom, who came as an envoy, boasted about his achievements.

“You will keep the promise you made to me.”

“Ah, that.”

It was a promise to connect some trade routes with Joseon to Hwang Gwi, Hwang Eom’s nephew.

‘Hwang Eom is still the number one eunuch in Ming China.’

He wasn’t someone I could turn my back on after getting what I wanted.

So I readily nodded.

Only after receiving my confirmation did Hwang Eom reveal something he hadn’t been asked.

“I arranged the marriage, but seeing Huangmei’s personality, I’m worried that she might incur Joseon’s resentment.”

It seems there was some trouble on the way.

The princess, who has become a member of our family, doesn’t have an ordinary personality either.

But…

“Isn’t that up to the man to handle?”

I said with a nonchalant smile.

“I wish you good luck, Your Highness.”

Hwang Eom said with a constipated expression.

Yi Bang-won watched Hwang Eom leave and then said.

“The daughter-in-law brought not only gifts but also a lot of people. As expected of a great country, they can afford to send so many people with her.”

Yi Bang-won said.

‘Huh?’

I had been taking it for granted, but after hearing Yi Bang-won’s words, I felt something strange.

Ming China used to extort women and eunuchs from Joseon until I made a deal.

Even if it’s the marriage of a beloved princess… isn’t it too many, not just one or two palace women?

“Dongchang.”

“Huh?”

“It’s called Dongchang [Eastern Depot], a spy organization of eunuchs operated by Ming China.”

Isn’t Dongchang the organization that appeared constantly in martial arts novels I read in modern times?

A legendary intelligence agency that knows everything that happens in the world.

It’s a novel, so there’s exaggeration…

‘I would mix in spies too.’

No matter how much the Yongle Emperor cherishes his younger sister, he is essentially the ruthless emperor of the Great Ming Empire.

He wouldn’t miss the perfect opportunity to grasp the inside story of Joseon.

I swallowed hard.

And the opportunity to find out came sooner than I thought.

===

Originally, a national effort is mobilized when a prince, especially the crown prince who will inherit the throne, gets married.

It’s not for nothing that Yi Hwa stepped up and suggested traffic control.

First, a marriage ban is issued before the wedding, and the young ladies who submitted their birth dates are selected through three rounds of selection.

Then, the selected young ladies receive lessons on the etiquette they must have as the Crown Princess in a separate palace.

Originally, the Crown Princess selected after this arduous process would have a wedding, but now that a royal marriage with Ming China has been concluded, everything has been omitted.

‘Originally, concubines are also selected during the three rounds of selection.’

I don’t really need more women, but it’s a shame.

Although the separate palace class was omitted, there is a procedure for the groom to go to the separate palace for the wedding.

That’s why I came to Taepyeonggwan [a guesthouse for foreign envoys].

This separate palace was set up in Taepyeonggwan, the Ming Dynasty’s envoy residence.

When we delivered the geese, Hwang Eom and Yang Sa-gi, the envoys, said a word to Zhu Suohua on behalf of the bride’s parents.

“Huangmei, you must always maintain your dignity.”

“…I hope you remember what I told you before.”

Hwang Eom said with a sullen expression.

When I returned to Changdeokgung [a Joseon palace] with Zhu Suohua, Yi Bang-won gave me advice, which was the Imheonjogyo (臨軒醮戒) [royal lecture on marriage].

Then, I was dragged to a table of alcohol set up in the palace and had to silently listen to the Chief State Councilor Yi Hwa reading the king’s edict.

Soon, Yi Hwa, who had read out the not-so-short edict, said to me.

“Your Highness, exchange bows (交拜) [Gyobaerye].”

The wording is strange, but the Gyobaerye is only a ceremony where the bride and groom bow to each other.

Only after finishing Dongroe (同牢) [sharing food and wine] could we change into comfortable clothes and be guided to the room.

“Ugh, my whole body aches.”

It was my first wedding in both my past and present lives, but somehow it felt like playing a very tiring game of house.

But she leaned her head against me with a flushed face.

“I was so nervous I almost died.”

‘She’s a girl who likes to hug so much.’

But I don’t even have the strength to push her head away right now.

‘Well, it’ll be alright.’

If I, who was trained by Yi Seong-gye, am like this, she must be just as tired.