There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 202

I thought she was too young to be married off, but royal families prioritize early marriages to secure descendants quickly.

Now that my own state wedding is over and I’ve paved the way, it’s time for my younger brothers’ marriage arrangements to begin.

‘Wasn’t her match the daughter of Vice General Sim On?’

I believe it was the same match as in the original historical accounts.

Considering the social standing of eligible families, only a select few are deemed suitable for marriage into the royal family.

Consequently, the Cheongsong Sim clan already had marital ties with the royal family. Sim On’s younger brother, Sim Jong, married Princess Gyeongseon, daughter of Taejo [the founder and first king of the Joseon dynasty].

“The Cheongsong Sim clan. A very prestigious family.”

Lee Seong-gye [King Taejo] remarked.

“I heard that my aunt recommended Sim On’s daughter, who is also her nephew’s daughter, as a spouse for Do [Chungnyeong Grand Prince, later King Sejong].”

“She was raised in a respectable family, so she will undoubtedly be virtuous and a good wife to our Grand Prince. Unlike those mischievous fellows who tease their grandfather.”

I only teased him a little, yet he’s so grumpy.

Where else can you find a grandson as filial as me?

Then, Lee Seong-gye asked suspiciously.

“When are you planning to have a child?”

It takes two hands to clap to make a sound.

How can there be results without any action?

“Do you wish to see great-grandchildren again?”

“Since I’ve endured humiliation in my old age, I need to see you struggling with your children to feel relieved when I close my eyes.”

Lee Seong-gye grumbled.

“That won’t happen. I intend to raise our child to be gentle and fond of poetry, scholarship, and books. Just like our Crown Prince.”

Lee Seong-gye laughed heartily at Joo So-hwa’s words.

“Ha!”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Consider the blood flowing in your veins and his. A child inheriting both of your love for poetry and scholarship? It’s easier to turn a tiger into a dog, hahaha!”

Lee Seong-gye seemed genuinely convinced of that.

“Who knows, perhaps a child who will turn the country upside down will emerge?”

At the clearly teasing tone, Joo So-hwa blushed.

“Eek…”

Joo So-hwa exclaimed.

“Just you wait and see! That! Will! Never! Happen!”

I stroked his head and calmed him down.

===

“I need to prove that Grandpa is wrong quickly.”

Joo So-hwa, having returned to the East Palace [the residence of the Crown Prince], nudged me. He could have simply said it.

Then, as if his thoughts had wandered, he tilted his head.

“But how exactly are babies born?”

Is that where we’re starting?

I smacked my forehead.

His body is fully grown, but what have the court ladies been doing without teaching him this?

‘There wouldn’t have been anyone to teach him in Ming [the ruling dynasty of China at the time].’

Empress Seo, who acted as his guardian, had been in and out of consciousness for years, and there would have been no one else to address this matter.

But it was difficult for me to answer.

So I glossed over it.

“Well, won’t a stork bring it?”

The reason why South Korea’s birth rate is low is because storks have become an endangered species due to habitat destruction and food source depletion.

Seeing that it’s a scientific explanation, it must be true.

“What’s that? That’s no fun.”

Joo So-hwa frowned.

‘Anyway, they’ll figure it out when the time comes.’

After careful calculation, that day seems to be not far off.

“By the way, are you going to be okay with living with your sister-in-law from now on?”

It’s customary for princes to leave the palace after marriage, but it’s just a custom. Since it’s the beginning of the dynasty, there are no strict mourning rituals, and if the king wants it, you have to do it unconditionally.

‘Good, good.’

I finally succeeded in dieting after all my efforts, but if she goes out and lives away from my supervision and gets a yo-yo effect, it’s all for nothing.

It’s a good thing for me, but now I’m not the only one living here.

“What’s not okay about it?”

Joo So-hwa said, trying to appear mature.

But the reason was very much like him.

“What will it feel like to have a sister-in-law? Will it feel similar to having a younger sister?”

Joo So-hwa clung to me and chattered.

‘Aren’t you indulging in too much fantasy?’

From the perspective of the new daughter-in-law, they are all family members of her husband’s family.

Well, there are many families where sisters-in-law have a good relationship.

Empress Dowager Kim and Queen Wongyeong also joined forces with the common ground of being devoted wives.

Whether or not, Joo So-hwa seemed happy about living with his younger brother and his wife.

“Younger sister, hehehe…”

Joo So-hwa wiggled his fingers and smiled shyly.

“I have to treat her really well.”

===

Unlike the Crown Prince and his wife, Chungnyeong Grand Prince’s stay in the East Palace was not a smooth compromise.

“It is the law of the country that a married Grand Prince should leave the palace, so how can he continue to reside in the East Palace?”

There was a strong sentiment within the Sim family that was uncomfortable with this decision.

‘Why do we have to worry about this when we have nothing to lose?’

Sim On sighed deeply.

If you were to choose the most powerful individual of the time, it would undoubtedly be Ha Ryun.

However, if you were to choose the most powerful family of the time, not an individual, the situation would be slightly different.

The great clans of Goryeo [the previous Korean dynasty], who had enjoyed power since the current royal family was merely a humble commander in the Northeast, still maintained their glory even after the founding of Joseon [the dynasty that replaced Goryeo].

There were several families known as the noble clans of the Three Han [ancient Korean kingdoms], one of which was the Cheongsong Sim clan.

Therefore, their pride was immense.

To what extent? To the point where they felt a little disappointed when the king requested a marriage by proposing the third prince, not the crown prince.

Of course, he was the king’s beloved son, not just the crown prince, so they accepted it with joy.

“He possesses a handsome appearance and outstanding talent, so if you only consider the Grand Prince, he is a perfect match for marriage…”

However, the unexpected problem was the Crown Prince and his wife above him.

In the midst of the marriage talks, the Crown Prince managed to secure a Ming Dynasty princess.

“As the Crown Prince is so renowned, his personality is not very… benevolent. Fortunately, his relationship with the Grand Prince is smooth…”

His younger brother, Sim Jong, said.

He was quite familiar with the royal family’s affairs, thanks to his wife, Princess Gyeongseon, being a member of the royal family and frequently attending palace gatherings for women.

“What is the Ming Princess’s personality like? Is she supportive of her husband?”

“There is no need to discuss it. Isn’t the Ming Princess the daughter of the Ming Emperor? What has been the personality of the princesses of the great powers who have entered this country?”

Sim Jeong, another younger brother, answered the question of Sim On, the head of the family.

The scholars of this country clearly remembered the days when Goryeo was a son-in-law country of Yuan [the Mongol-led dynasty that ruled China and exerted influence over Goryeo].

The princesses of Yuan who came to Goryeo, with the exception of Princess Noguk, all regarded Goryeo people, regardless of their status, as if they were dirt or straw.

Thus, even if the Yuan princess openly dragged out a concubine and beat her, the king could not say a word. The Sim family, who had witnessed that history of glory and humiliation since the Goryeo Dynasty, was overcome with anxiety.

In the Goryeo Dynasty, the target was a concubine, but was there any guarantee that it would not be a sister-in-law?

Thus, the Sim family tried to grasp the situation of the inner palace by mobilizing all their information.

Sim Jong said.

“My wife said that she is bright in learning and has a lively personality. It seems that no negative stories have reached the wives who participated in the women’s gatherings.”

“The Ming Princess is Princess Gyeongseon’s niece, so she may have only shared positive stories. Besides, how can we be certain that the personality revealed outside is the same as the actual personality within the inner palace?”

Sim On said that.

“According to what I learned through the court lady of the Supreme King [King Taejo, now retired], the Supreme King is also dissatisfied with the Crown Princess’s lack of etiquette.”

“Everyone in the world knows that the Supreme King cherishes the Crown Prince, so how can we believe those words as they are?”

Sim Jeong refuted Sim Jong’s words.

“He may cherish his grandson, but his granddaughter-in-law is different. Rather, he may be more strict because she is the spouse of his cherished grandson.”

Sim On, who had been listening to his two younger brothers, asked.

“What is her relationship with the Grand Prince like? Can we trust only in her friendship with the Crown Prince?”

“That is, the relationship between the Ming Princess and the Chungnyeong Grand Prince is said to be not very good. No, there are even rumors that they are almost enemies.”

“Heo [an expression of dismay].”

Sim On sighed deeply.

Only bad information is being conveyed.

Sim On could not hide the anxiety in his heart.

“Have you met Min In-saeng? He would know the situation of the inner palace properly.”

“We have also tried to find him, but we can’t seem to get a chance to meet him. His colleagues at the Spring and Autumn Pavilion say that he is always a person who disappears like the wind…”

“Heo.”

If only the Grand Prince had left the palace, there would be less to worry about, but wasn’t that also rejected?

‘Since the Crown Prince cherishes his younger brother, how can he send him out of the palace carelessly? Are you already trying to interfere with the royal family under the pretext of marriage?’

Since that’s how it was perceived, what could Sim On say?

‘Even though my daughter is married out, I feel like I’m sending a child out onto the water.’

Sim On held his daughter’s hand tightly and swallowed his tears.

“If anything happens in the East Palace, you must contact this father. If something happens to you, this father will…”

“Don’t worry too much, Father. What could possibly happen?”

Rather, it was the daughter who answered confidently.

As a woman who would later become Sejong’s partner and hold the position of queen for decades, she was indeed a strong figure.

However, even she could not easily shake off the tension and fear that had deeply cast a shadow in her heart as she saw the reactions of the adults.

===

When I had my wedding, there were many procedures and it seemed very long, but my younger brother’s wedding concluded quickly.

There is a difference between the Crown Prince’s and the Grand Prince’s ceremonies, but it’s probably just because it’s not my concern.

Now that we have become one family, my sister-in-law’s luggage began to arrive at the East Palace, and there was a lot of luggage, as expected of a prestigious family.

“Crown Prince, Crown Princess. From today on, we will be living together, so please let me know if there is anything I don’t know or lack.”

I was speechless for a moment at my sister-in-law’s words.

I heard that she is one year younger than us and two years older than Do, but isn’t she speaking too maturely?

It was like the eldest daughter-in-law of a prominent family.

However, unlike me, Joo So-hwa, who is the actual eldest daughter-in-law, stepped forward without hesitation.

“Welcome~!”

Joo So-hwa grabbed Sim’s hand and shook it.

“Crown Princess…?”

Seeing her bewildered expression, Joo So-hwa whispered to me.

“Seja [Crown Prince], I think my sister-in-law is happy to see us too.”

Anyone can see that it’s a sign of caution, but isn’t he interpreting it too favorably?

“We’re sisters-in-law, but think of me as an older sister comfortably. I’ll treat you like a younger sister too!”

Joo So-hwa had been longing for the role of an older sister because all of her siblings were much older than her, and there were few people she could truly call family.

“This is the back garden! And this is our bedroom. That’s the building where the Grand Prince lives! You’ll be sharing it!”

Somehow, my sister-in-law’s reaction seemed strained, but he didn’t notice and grabbed her wrist, dragging her around.

He must have a lot to show her since he’s been in the East Palace for a while.

“Ask this older sister anything you don’t know.”

Joo So-hwa said triumphantly.

“Yes…”

However, only a lackluster response came back.

Seeing my sister-in-law’s eyes widen, she must have been very surprised by his forwardness.

“Okay, okay, take it easy. My sister-in-law hasn’t settled in yet.”

After barely calming down Joo So-hwa’s enthusiasm, I couldn’t find the person who should be here.

“Where did that guy go?”

The groom was nowhere to be seen on moving day.