There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 252

Yi Bang-won met his son’s disbelieving gaze with his own.

But he wanted to rest a little.

No, he felt like he deserved to rest.

‘I forgive you.’

When he heard those words from his father, he felt the burden weighing on his shoulders lighten a little.

He had taken up the sword because his youngest brother, who had contributed nothing to the founding of this nation, was about to take everything.

For the youngest, not even the eldest brother, to take the throne was an insult to those born to Queen Shinui. How could he stand by and watch?

But could that alone justify killing his brother, his brother-in-law, and his subjects?

That was why he had to become a king who laid the foundation for this nation.

Even if no one acknowledged it,

Even if he couldn’t escape the criticism of later generations.

Only then could he find a reason for having to kill his own family.

‘Looking back, it was like riding a tiger’s back all these years.’

What controlled Yi Bang-won was not so much a desire for power as that sense of pressure.

But the moment he received Yi Seong-gye’s forgiveness, Yi Bang-won was freed from his shackles.

If so, all that remained for him was to make arrangements for future generations.

To hand over the throne to his son, who possessed the Mandate of Heaven [the belief that the ruler’s authority comes from a divine source], in advance, and to support him so that his reign could be stabilized.

That was his last remaining duty.

Of course, he wouldn’t be able to accept this decision easily.

As expected, his son, ever the dutiful one, shouted with a face as pale as a sheet.

“Absolutely not!”

“Of course, I understand that this is sudden. But this father has given it enough thought…”

As he continued to speak, Yi Bang-won suddenly looked around.

Wasn’t his son, his eunuchs, all staring at him with dumbfounded expressions?

“Why, what’s wrong?”

Seeing them all looking deathly pale with fear, Yi Bang-won realized that something was wrong.

The Crown Prince cautiously opened his mouth.

“Are you, by any chance, planning to kill someone again this time?”

Yi Bang-won, age 46, the boy who cried wolf.

He was dejected.

===

“Aaaagh, no, no. If you’re planning to kill someone again, you’ll have to step over me first!”

I flopped down on my back and threw a tantrum.

I don’t know who the target is this time, but I have to put up a fight first.

Fortunately, narrowing down the targets for the purge wasn’t difficult.

My maternal relatives are all outside of Hanyang [the capital city of Joseon], so I’m relieved, and my wife’s relatives are in Ming China [the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644] and are part of the imperial family, so he can’t touch them.

‘Then who is it?’

They saw the Min clan almost lose their heads, so even if he stages an abdication show, neither the officials nor the royal relatives will fall for it easily.

‘Wait a minute.’

Could it be… me?

The back of my neck turned cold.

Has the season for disciplining the son already returned?

“How can you make your son an unfilial one, Father!”

I prostrated myself and shouted.

I hope he’ll be satisfied with this much, but if not, I’ll have to roll out a straw mat and wail loudly.

‘How annoying.’

I can’t do another kneeling protest in this weather, and if things get dicey, I’ll have to run straight to Induk Palace.

I’ll have to ask the retired king to hide me until the situation is over.

However, Yi Bang-won’s expression only became more frustrated.

“Just listen to what this father has to say!”

Yi Bang-won said with a serious expression.

“Your experience in state affairs is already mature, and you are not young either. On the other hand, this father no longer has any lingering attachment to the throne, so I mean to only support you from behind. Do you understand?”

Is it real?

No, don’t be fooled.

“No, it can’t be.”

I said firmly.

Isn’t this just another loyalty test?

I cautiously broached the subject.

“You always said that power cannot be shared even between father and son, didn’t you?”

Those were the words you always said, so how can I believe that you’re suddenly going to hand over the throne?

“The relationship between you and me is different from that of ordinary fathers and sons. Otherwise, would I have said such things in front of you? Rather, I would have kept my true feelings hidden.”

True enough.

I jumped up and scratched my head.

“Are you really going to abdicate?”

“Yes.”

“But… if I receive the abdication, doesn’t that mean I become the king of this country?”

“Of course.”

Yi Bang-won nodded readily.

I didn’t miss the opportunity to ask.

“Then what will you be doing, Father?”

“I’ll basically be in charge of military affairs, but for now, I’ll be resting leisurely, right?”

“See, see.”

I knew it.

Someone who is still energetic and mentally sound is already trying to pass the throne to his son and retire.

“That’s exactly why I’m against it.”

As a country that is currently under development, Joseon’s growth rate is literally explosive.

The population is increasing every year, and the census and land survey projects remain.

The working-level officials are somehow holding on by expanding the workforce, but as a characteristic of an absolute monarchy, the king’s workload will only increase, not decrease.

‘There’s a reason why Chinese emperors die young.’

They rule over a larger area than we do.

Even with a dual-core system of king and crown prince, the workload is overloaded, but you’re going to step back into the back room alone?

“This is realistically impossible.”

I said firmly.

It’s not a matter of fierce power struggles surrounding the abdication.

We purely need more people to work.

And a decision-maker who can review and approve everything.

“Listening to you, I don’t know who the king is.”

Yi Bang-won grabbed the back of his neck.

I feel the same way.

‘It reminds me of when I was studying for the Korean History Proficiency Test.’

Back then, I only memorized words like Taejong’s Six Ministries Direct Control System and Sejong’s Council of State System.

Now that I’m in this position, I think I know why even a monster like King Sejong had to introduce the Council of State System.

As the country grew, it became too much to handle.

“At least hold on until my younger brothers grow up.”

Things will get a little easier once new slaves start appearing.

As I grabbed his pant leg and clung to him, Yi Bang-won sighed.

“Alright.”

It was when I was beaming with a smile, having thwarted Yi Bang-won’s scheme.

But Yi Bang-won’s words were not over yet.

Yi Bang-won slowly opened his mouth.

“Then how about a regency?”

What’s the difference between abdication and regency?

===

I grumbled as I left Heejung Hall.

It’s called a regency, but the division of duties between the grand audience and the daily audience is the same as before.

Except that I come out to the throne room in place of Yi Bang-won to receive the morning assembly.

I managed to compromise on a regency for now, but this incident made it clear.

Yi Bang-won is planning to abdicate.

And within a few years.

‘I feel lonely.’

From Yi Seong-gye’s death to Yi Bang-won’s abdication.

For some reason, I felt like an era was passing, and I felt sentimental.

Well, this is when I need to cheer up.

I was boosting my spirits when the Royal Secretariat asked.

“Your Highness, what should we do with the concubines of King Taejo?”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there were those people too.

In principle, concubines cannot stay in the palace when the king dies.

So, naturally, it is right to order them to leave the palace.

But the problem is that Yi Seong-gye is the first king to die since the founding of Joseon, and naturally, there is no precedent for the late king’s concubines leaving the palace.

“Those with children should be supported by their children, but what should we do with those who don’t?”

However, Seongbi Won, who was treated as Taejo’s queen, and some other concubines have no children and nowhere to live.

Even their own fathers or older brothers are all dead, and many generations have passed, so it’s ambiguous to send them back to their own families.

“How about giving houses to those who have no children and letting them live together?

By the way, the old house of Prince Muan, Bang-beon, is empty, so let’s repair it and have them live together.”

That’s not a bad suggestion.

“That’s right.”

I said, nodding my head.

The dead Prince Muan should be filial even in this way.

Since stepmothers are also mothers.

“Repair Prince Muan’s house, name it Jasugung (Palace of Compassionate Longevity), and allow the childless concubines to live there.”

===

Even though it was the house of the ‘traitor’ Yi Bang-beon, they wouldn’t have left that large house unattended without any management.

Therefore, even if they repaired Yi Bang-beon’s house, it wouldn’t take much time or effort, and as soon as the decision was made, the concubines immediately began preparing to move.

However, the high-ranking concubines would not pack their own luggage.

While the maids were finishing the preparations, they said goodbye to the people of the palace they had grown fond of.

“Seongbi Mama, sob sob…”

“Why are you crying so much? It’s not like we won’t see each other again.”

Even Seongbi Won, who was treated almost like Taejo’s queen, was not exempt from leaving the palace, so she was also saying her farewells.

“Jasugung is also inside the capital, so it’s not far from here. Can’t we see each other from time to time?”

“But once you leave the palace, it’s hard to come back…”

Seongbi Won comforted Hyobin Kim, who was soaked in tears.

They had grown fond of each other over the years, but beyond that, the feeling of sadness was so strong that it was conveyed here.

‘Is it because her position in the inner court will decrease when Seongbi leaves?’

I thought as I watched the scene from afar.

Or maybe the sight of Seongbi leaving the palace overlaps with her own future.

She will also have to leave the palace she has grown fond of like Seongbi when Yi Bang-won passes away.

Hyobin has a son, Prince Gyeongnyeong, so she will go there.

‘Should I have just left them in the palace?’

I decided to leave the palace according to etiquette, but I didn’t feel good seeing the scene turn into a sea of tears.

Still, they are the concubines of my grandfather, so wouldn’t it have been better to let them stay near Taesangjeon [the residence of the retired king], where they used to live…?”

“So you’re really not going to be buried alive?”

The guilt disappeared completely at Joo So-hwa’s exclamation next to me.

Yeah, it’s better than Ming China, where they bury all the concubines when the emperor dies.

Compared to a dark and gloomy tomb chamber, Jasugung is like a happy, happy, happy house.

What kind of country is Ming, anyway…?”

At that time, the palace people who were saying goodbye were divided.

“?”

I tilted my head in confusion, and then someone I never expected came out from between them.

“Mother?”

Queen Wongyeong, Lady Min, parted the maids like the Red Sea and walked out.

“Queen…”

Seongbi Won, who was standing in front, bowed her head first.

The ranking of the inner court had been settled when she was given the title of Seongbi a few years ago, and now she was losing all her power and leaving. There was no way she would start a power struggle now.

‘Could it be that she came to see this scene?’

I thought with wide eyes.

To laugh at the sight of Seongbi completely broken and leaving?

‘If so, she’s truly a model villain…’

Cold sweat ran down my back.

“What’s wrong?”

Joo So-hwa poked my side and asked.

Ah, you can’t see it yet, can you?

My mother’s triumphant declaration of victory.

“Are you leaving the palace now?”

“Yes, I have received much grace from the Queen during that time.”

Seongbi Won replied politely.

Then Queen Wongyeong turned her gaze and continued.

“Come and have tea sometime. I’ll leave the doors of the Junggungjeon [the Queen’s residence] open.”

Seongbi Won’s eyes widened for a moment, and then she answered with a faint smile.

“If you invite me, I will gladly do so.”

Then Seongbi Won turned around.

The concubines who were leaving the palace and the maids who were serving them followed her in a line.

“?!”

A reconciliation at a completely unexpected timing.

I slipped next to Queen Wongyeong and said.

“You’ve grown fond of each other, no matter what.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Queen Wongyeong replied coldly, but she couldn’t fool my eyes.

“No matter what, Mother, you were also concerned about King Taejo’s will, weren’t you?”

“…”

Their relationship hadn’t been good because of Seongbi’s role as a mother-in-law, but she must have been concerned about the will to get along well as a family.

“Girls, let’s go back.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Queen Wongyeong took her maids and returned to Junggungjeon without answering.

Is the old generation of the inner court all stepping down?

Does that mean that if I receive the abdication, my wife will be the queen?

I glanced at Joo So-hwa.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, just because.”

I was just wondering if she could do it properly.

“Is it a generational change?”

My murmur scattered and disappeared into the sky.

Soon I will be the king, Joo So-hwa will be the queen, and my younger brothers will be…