There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 23

“It’s been exactly ten years since the founding of the nation this year,” Lee Bang-won began.

“It was too short a time to establish proper laws for the succession of the eldest son.”

Looking at the faces of the three kings who ascended the throne in the meantime, it was even more apparent.

Lee Seong-gye was the founding monarch, Lee Bang-gwa was technically the second son and a figurehead, and Lee Bang-won was the fifth son.

“Even if we look at the history of our dynasty, there has never been a succession by the eldest son,” Lee Seong-gye continued.

“Since King Mok (Lee An-sa, Lee Seong-gye’s great-great-grandfather) took the title of Mongol chiliarch [a military rank in the Mongol Empire], there has been no precedent for succession by the eldest son.

King Ik was the fourth son of King Mok, King Do was the second son of King Ik, and King Hwan was the second son of King Do.”

King Hwan, Lee Ja-chun, even usurped his nephew’s position, and Lee Seong-gye also pushed aside his brother, Lee Won-gye, and inherited his power.

Since the history of the Jeonju Lee family itself was like this, it would be unusual if the succession of the eldest son were to take place in this generation.

Lee Bang-won said, “Now is really the time to establish the eldest son, but if the Heir Apparent vacates the East Palace [the residence of the Crown Prince], there are bound to be those who harbor vain dreams.”

“Are you going to stand idly by and watch that?”

“Of course not,” Lee Bang-won said coldly. “Those who have air in their lungs will have their ambitions cut off in advance. But…”

Lee Bang-won trailed off.

“I am worried because there is no guarantee that the children will not cause a bloodbath just because their parents want them to.”

‘You know it well, you son of a bitch,’ Lee Seong-gye muttered.

“Is there any child other than the Heir Apparent who has the qualities?”

“The second is just gentle and ordinary. The third… likes reading books too much, which is a problem.”

“But the throne that will be handed down to the Heir Apparent will not go to another son.”

“My support for the rightful heir is unwavering.”

‘Unlike someone,’ Lee Bang-won thought to himself.

However, Lee Seong-gye could understand the words that Lee Bang-won omitted.

Naturally, he had no choice but to engage in a subtle war of nerves.

“You, now that I see it, you’re not worried that your younger brothers will threaten the position of the eldest son, but that the Heir Apparent will strike them down, that’s what you’re worried about.”

Lee Seong-gye clicked his tongue, saying that he was worried about the same things.

Even though it was rude language, even if he was his father, Lee Bang-won could not answer, because it was a word that hit Lee Bang-won right in the spot.

If there are intelligent competitors among siblings, anyone would want to exclude them.

Lee Bang-won was afraid that his children would wage a bloody war against each other.

Lee Seong-gye understood.

‘Look at this guy.’

Was Lee Bang-won also a parent after all?

“Don’t worry,” Lee Seong-gye asserted. “He’s the kind of guy who wouldn’t cut off the fingers of the Mansan-gun guys who rioted because it would interfere with his work.”

If his younger brother is smart, he would use him, and the kind of thing Lee Bang-won is thinking about will not happen.

Lee Seong-gye thought about adding that, but soon closed his mouth.

‘I need to give you some trouble too.’

Lee Seong-gye still had some resentment left.

However, Lee Bang-won seemed to have understood Lee Seong-gye’s words.

“He has decisiveness, but he is not always ruthless to his relatives. Isn’t he the one who made the stove with his own hands for the sake of all people?”

The improved stove made by the Heir Apparent was spreading rapidly, centered on Gaeseong.

In addition, the Heir Apparent’s reputation was also increasing, praising the virtue of allowing them to spend the winter days with less firewood.

“And, rather, entrusting the construction of Hanyang will help establish the authority of the Heir Apparent.”

Lee Bang-won raised his head sharply at Lee Seong-gye’s words.

“What do you mean?”

“Appoint him as the Crown Prince and have him oversee the affairs of Hanyang.”

Overseeing the country is a kind of division of government, so the authority of the Heir Apparent will be incomparably higher than that of his younger brothers.

It is a division of government, but its authority is focused only on the construction of Hanyang, but that alone is enough to declare the succession.

‘Except for one thing.’

Except for the absolute proposition that you cannot share power even with your parents and children.

As a successor, Lee Bang-won knows what it means to share power with his son.

Lee Seong-gye wanted to see how this wicked son would react.

Will he worry? Or will he make excuses and refuse?

Or will he resist, saying it’s nonsense?

But Lee Bang-won did not choose any of them.

He grinned.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

Lee Seong-gye was startled.

He didn’t expect him to accept it so readily, but he said okay.

“The Heir Apparent is young,” Lee Bang-won said slowly to his father, as if explaining.

“No matter how good he is, he cannot replace me. Rather, my son’s achievements will become my achievements, and my son’s success will be the king’s pride, so there is nothing to lose.”

“······.”

Did he finish this calculation in that short time?

Lee Seong-gye inwardly cursed him as a terrible guy.

Lee Bang-won was different from the kings of later generations who even checked their successors. He was at least clean in this matter.

“But what if the Heir Apparent fails?” Lee Seong-gye brought up another possibility that Lee Bang-won did not mention.

Then Lee Bang-won laughed and replied, “That can’t happen, can it?”

‘Damn it.’

What a fool for his son.

Lee Seong-gye shook his head.

===

“No-boon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Did you talk about me?”

“How could I ever do that?”

If not, why is my ear so itchy?

Is someone talking about me?

Anyway, I hurried out of Gyotaejeon [the Queen’s residence].

I went to see my mother and reported that I had been there, and I was on my way out.

‘I was scolded a lot for doing something dangerous.’

I remember that in the “Land of the Morning Calm” [likely a reference to a historical drama or book] Prince’s Rebellion part, Queen Wongyeong even took care of Taejong’s armor and encouraged him.

I guess husbands and sons are different.

Is he more normal than my grandfather, who praised me for drowning people?

When No-boon was following me, I saw a child in the distance.

“Hmm?”

A boy who looks like me is playing in the palace, huh.

The memory of Grand Prince Yangnyeong that came to mind taught me the identity of that child.

Lee Bo.

He hasn’t been appointed yet, but he will be called Grand Prince Hyoryeong in the future.

And my brother.

“The Second Prince is here.”

“Yes, I saw him too.”

A sense of joy welled up inside me.

I’ve been busy with my own things, so I haven’t seen my brothers’ faces properly.

The palace in Gaeseong is quite large, so if you don’t try to see them, you won’t run into them like this.

I was about to say hello, but then he noticed me and our eyes met.

– Thump!

And then he suddenly started running away!

“What, why is he doing that?” I was puzzled and asked No-boon.

But No-boon’s expression was subtle.

I had a feeling about that expression.

‘Could it be that Grand Prince Yangnyeong, that bastard?’

“…Did I ever do anything wrong to him?”

“Yes.”

I tried to recall my memories in a hurry, but I couldn’t think of anything because I was so anxious.

I scratched my head and shouted, “Ugh, let’s chase after him first! No-boon, give me your back!”

I got on No-boon’s back and pointed in the direction Grand Prince Hyoryeong was running away.

“That way!”

I hurriedly ran on No-boon’s back, and I saw the little Grand Prince Hyoryeong running away.

However, there was no way that short legs could beat the pursuit of an adult No-boon.

Soon, he was caught by No-boon’s hand.

“Uwaaah, I don’t want to!” Grand Prince Hyoryeong burst into tears.

Then the eunuchs who were escorting him were shocked.

“Oh, Heir Apparent!”

“Are you trying to touch the Prince’s body again!”

“?”

Touching the body.

I wondered if they had seen his back, but fortunately, it didn’t seem to be the case.

Then I remembered Grand Prince Yangnyeong.

He used to grab him and beat him whenever he was bored because he was cute.

Grand Prince Hyoryeong’s personality was so gentle that he couldn’t respond properly even when he was beaten by his older brother, and that’s why he became more interested in it.

Even Grand Prince Yangnyeong recognized this as playing between brothers.

‘What a crazy bastard.’

That’s why the kid is running away.

‘Why is the shame on me?’

Look at him trembling.

It seemed like no matter what I said in this situation, it wouldn’t work.

“H-Hyung [older brother], wh-what’s wrong…”

“It’s nothing.”

I didn’t know that just calling him to say hello would cause this.

But it was too painful to just let it go.

‘Why does Yangnyeong cause the accident and I have to clean it up?’

“No-boon.”

“Yes, Heir Apparent.”

“If you have anything sweet, take it out.”

“H-How could I have something like that with me right now?”

“I guess not.”

I rummaged through my pockets to see if I had anything, and I grabbed something.

“It’s a Buddha statue.”

I forgot about this.

I didn’t see it in detail when I received it from Lee Seong-gye last time, but it’s a statue of Vajra Warrior [a Buddhist guardian deity].

Grandfather, you really only brought things like you.

Then something touched my hand holding the Buddha statue.

“Huh?”

It was Grand Prince Hyoryeong’s frail hand, which had been terrified until just now.

He looked at the statue of Vajra Warrior without realizing it and reached out his hand.

“Hiek!”

Then he looked at my face and took his hand back in fear again.

But his eyes were still fixed on the Buddha statue of Vajra Warrior, which was taking a mysterious pose.

“Did you like this?”

When I asked, Grand Prince Hyoryeong nodded cautiously.

His eyes were filled with anxiety that I might smash it on the ground.

‘I wouldn’t do that, even if it was the original Grand Prince Yangnyeong.’

Unlike Grand Prince Yangnyeong, who ate meat and caused trouble at the temple, I am 1/3 Buddhist.

“Here, take it.” I handed Lee Seong-gye’s Buddha statue to Grand Prince Hyoryeong.

“?”

“Don’t take it? You don’t need it?”

“N-No…” Grand Prince Hyoryeong shook his head hastily and accepted the Buddha statue.

“Heh, hehe.” A smile finally bloomed on his face.

“Do you like the Buddha statue?”

“Yes!”

As expected, he is a Buddhist otaku [a person with obsessive interests, often used in a lighthearted way] who left his name in history.

In the past, when my friend said he was a member of the Grand Prince Hyoryeong faction, I told him that Grand Prince Hyoryeong was a monk, so how could he have descendants.

‘I didn’t know he would really have descendants.’

He didn’t go into priesthood, but he already seemed to have Buddhist otaku tendencies.

‘Come to think of it, I heard that he asked for a lot of Buddha statues everywhere.’

– In Japan, he also requested a lot of Buddha statues and Tripitaka [a collection of Buddhist scriptures].

I remembered Jin-hyuk’s explanation.

In Joseon, if you said you liked Buddhism, people would make a fuss, so you couldn’t openly show it, but Japan was a Buddhist country, so it was different.

“Hmm.”

Buddha statue, Tripitaka.

That means they are looking for a lot of it in Japan.

“Heir Apparent.”

While I was deep in thought, my father’s close eunuch hurried over here.

“What’s wrong?”

“His Majesty the King is looking for you.”

===

“Hanyang, construction?”

“Can you do it?”

Lee Bang-won’s words were shocking.

No, even if it’s me, how can you entrust the construction of Hanyang to a child?

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“No. It’s just too sudden.”

I answered vaguely.

I have certainly made a lot of tools, but the order to build an entire city is different.

“You don’t have to do it if you’re not confident,” Lee Bang-won said softly.

But I couldn’t refuse.

‘Hanyang, with my own hands.’

My heart was pounding.

I can create the planned city I dream of in Hanyang.

Hanyang was already a large town, but it was not yet the capital of Joseon.

‘I can build the foundation from the beginning.’

I said with determination, “Okay. Well, let’s do it.”

End

ⓒ Pitkong