“What brings you here personally…? We were just about to come and greet you.”
I asked Lee Bang-won, who had suddenly barged in while I was preparing for the evening greetings. He shook his head.
“No, it’s easier for me to come to the East Palace than for three people to come to Heejungdang [the Crown Prince’s residence]. Let’s see, how is our Royal Grandson doing?”
– *Suck suck suck suck!*
Lee Bang-won was startled to see his son, completely absorbed, sucking furiously on a pacifier.
“…Why is the Royal Grandson so quiet?”
You must be surprised to see the little rascal, who usually cries so loudly, now making blissful noises as he enjoys paradise.
But it’s too early to be surprised.
I placed an object in Lee Bang-won’s hand.
“What is this thing?”
“Try shaking it.”
At my suggestion, Lee Bang-won carefully shook it.
– *Jingle!*
The bell inside jingled, making a clear sound.
“Kya-ha!”
Lee Bang-won’s eyes widened as Lee Dan reacted to the bell sound with a burst of laughter.
“…!”
Soon, he brought the rattle to Lee Dan’s eyes and began shaking it vigorously.
– *Jingle jingle jingle!*
“Giggle!”
“Hoo.”
After shaking it for a long time, Lee Bang-won wiped away sweat and handed the rattle back to me.
“It seems the Royal Grandson really likes this thing. How did you know that babies who can’t speak like these things?”
“Why wouldn’t babies be curious? Since everything is new to them when they first come into the world, I simply thought about letting them experience things early to develop their five senses.”
With that, I gently touched the mobile hanging from the ceiling.
As my hand touched it, the balance was disrupted, and the sculptures representing the sun, moon, and stars shook wildly.
It’s a simple structure with just sculptures hanging from strings, but I heard that even this kind of mobile is very helpful for visual development.
‘No one in this era is using it yet, though.’
Since the development of a baby’s five senses is linked to brain development, it’s safe to say that our son is already ahead of the game from infancy.
‘Could it be that my son is going to be a genius?’
This isn’t just wishful thinking.
Even my younger sibling was a genius who left their name in Korean history, so there’s a good chance he has the potential from the genetic level.
As I subtly revealed such expectations, Lee Bang-won sighed, touching his forehead.
“You’re such a fool for your son.”
“Who do you think he takes after?”
‘I didn’t want to hear that from you, of all people, Father.’
I thought to myself.
“By the way, where did the Crown Princess go?”
“She was exercising with me until just now, but she’s gone to rest a bit. I’ll call her right away.”
“No, that’s alright. More importantly, exercise? Instead of letting her rest quietly?”
At my words, Lee Bang-won raised his eyebrows and began to nag.
“Exercising lightly is better than just lying down.”
According to health programs I heard about in modern times, postpartum exercise actually helps with recovery from aftereffects.
Thinking about it that way, it’s important for the mother’s health as well.
‘The mother’s body shape also becomes fixed depending on when she exercises during this period.’
Joo So-hwa’s eyes widened when she heard this, and she diligently followed along with yoga.
Yoga is the best for postpartum exercise, right?
I’ve only seen a few videos on YouTube, so I can’t teach her any more than that.
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have brought a yoga instructor from Cheonghaejin [a major trading hub during the Joseon dynasty].’
I was wondering if I could send someone to India to find one, when.
“Anyway, it’s good that things are going well now. Come closer for a moment.”
Lee Bang-won pulled me closer and whispered.
“What is it?”
“It’s about a matter of great importance.”
What could be a matter of such great importance that my parents would bring up with such gravity, other than marriage?
“I’m already married, though?”
You can’t be telling me to get married again.
No, that’s not true. In this country of Joseon.
‘I could get married again.’
In Joseon, even if you have a wife, you can get married once, or even several times, as long as you have the means to do so.
Because there’s a concubine system.
In particular, the king is encouraged to have concubines and promote the production of offspring, so it wasn’t entirely out of the question.
“Are you telling me to take in a concubine?”
“That’s right.”
A concubine!
Since I’m a man, even when I first fell into this Joseon, the thought of creating a life of pleasure didn’t fail to appeal to me.
‘This is every man’s fantasy.’
But a fantasy is just that, a fantasy.
‘The inner court has only just regained peace.’
Lee Bang-won doesn’t care much, but I have no choice but to pay close attention to the movements of the inner court because of my mother’s frequent requests for help.
Fortunately, the power balance in the inner court has long been overwhelmingly in favor of Queen Wongyeong.
Since receiving Sungbi Won’s declaration of surrender, there hasn’t been anyone in the inner court who could be considered her rival.
Hyobin Kim’s family is humble, and she only gave birth to one son, Prince Gyeongnyeong, and among the other concubines, only Uibin Kwon was a dark horse, but she has no sons.
Even if she did, she wouldn’t be able to compete with the Queen Consort, who has four legitimate children and even grandchildren.
Now that the hierarchy has been established and the peace of the inner court has been restored, you want to break it now?
‘My head is already starting to ache.’
The concubines will probably be chosen while adjusting their backgrounds and political circumstances, which means that new players will be massively injected into the love and war that has just ended.
“Don’t worry. I, your father, will take care of everything. Just stay quiet.”
Lee Bang-won said, gently hugging the Royal Grandson.
I feel uneasy for some reason.
===
Regardless of East or West, the status of the first wife is not low.
And the vast majority of them were very displeased with taking in concubines, so it was very common for troubles to arise against husbands or in-laws who tried to take in concubines.
Without going far, Queen Wongyeong of Joseon also refused to eat and lay down, didn’t she?
Joo So-hwa was the same.
– I intend to select women who are worthy of becoming the Crown Prince’s consort soon, so instruct families with virtuous daughters to report through the Seungjeongwon [Royal Secretariat]…
As soon as Lee Bang-won issued this edict, she immediately began a hunger strike.
“Still, a mother should eat. Let’s take just one bite for the sake of the Royal Grandson.”
Crown Prince Lee Je tried hard to appease her, but Joo So-hwa couldn’t hide her sulky expression.
After trying to appease her for a long time, Lee Je had no choice but to leave with a deep sigh.
As Lee Je left, Joo So-hwa grabbed a pillow and hit it repeatedly.
“You bad guy… Who do you think I came to Joseon for…!”
That guy must have known in advance, right?
But how could he not say a word?
“Your Highness.”
“I said I wouldn’t eat! Didn’t I tell you to take the table away?”
“Crown Princess, this is Wang Ho.”
Then Joo So-hwa quietly got up and opened the door.
Wang Ho walked on his knees and took out the rice balls he had secretly brought.
“Didn’t you get caught?”
Joo So-hwa asked, taking small bites with her small mouth.
Even for the sake of the Royal Grandson, the mother can’t starve.
“Yes, Your Highness. But is there any reason to oppose it while even putting on this act?”
Wang Ho said.
“Please think positively, Your Highness. No matter who comes in as a concubine, Your Highness’s noble position will never…”
Before Wang Ho could finish speaking, a pillow flew over.
“Jeje!”
– *Thud!*
While thinking, ‘Does this family teach this kind of thing professionally?’ Wang Ho fell to the ground.
It was truly a rare discovery that the Crown Princess, who was usually so kind, became the same as her brother when she got angry.
“Ha, then what are you going to do?”
“Write a letter to His Majesty or something…”
Joo So-hwa said with an expression that even she wasn’t confident in.
She resented her father-in-law for trying to take in a concubine as soon as she gave birth to the Royal Grandson, and she resented her husband for knowing and hiding it, but what she resented the most was herself for having nothing to do but go on a hunger strike in this situation.
Or cling to her brother.
But Wang Ho shook his head and said.
“First of all, appealing to the Emperor is not the best option.”
Wang Ho knew very well how traumatized Joseon people were by the Yuan Dynasty’s interference.
If they brought in Emperor Yongle, even the attempt would be a huge political scandal.
Moreover, they couldn’t even be sure if Emperor Yongle himself would move, so the risk was high and the probability was low.
“But there’s no other way…”
Wang Ho whispered to Joo So-hwa, who was fidgeting with her fingers.
“You need to bring in other people. Don’t you already have people around you who can help you?”
“People who can be of help?”
Joo So-hwa blinked.
===
Grand Prince Chungnyeong and his wife had a fairly good relationship, as befitting a couple who had the most children among the Joseon kings and queens of all time.
Lee Do also listened to his older wife quite a bit.
“I heard that the Crown Prince is taking in a concubine.”
“Did you hear that too, madam? I think it’s rather late.”
If my brother had been messing around with palace women since he was young, there would be an abundance of concubines, but he was so obsessed with work that he didn’t have time to do so.
“The Crown Princess is very worried about this. She called me and cried, and my heart ached.”
Lee Do was slightly jealous when his wife, Lady Shim, took the Crown Princess’s side.
He knew that the sisters-in-law were on good terms, but weren’t he and the Crown Princess kind of rivals(?).
“It can’t be helped. If we want to secure the Crown Prince’s succession, there must be several illegitimate children.”
And my brother should enjoy his life a little.
Thinking that way, he didn’t really feel like getting involved in this matter for the sake of his sister-in-law.
But there was a part that Lee Do hadn’t thought of.
“But wouldn’t it be better for our children if the Royal Grandson had fewer siblings?”
“…Well, if that’s the case, the Royal Grandson would cherish them more.”
Lee Do, who was smart, could clearly read what would follow.
Royal relatives basically need the king’s attention.
Of course, not bad attention like suspicion of treason, but affection and interest as relatives.
But this is also a limited resource in its own way.
Even if they weren’t the Royal Grandson’s full siblings, wouldn’t his half-siblings simply be competitors to the royal relatives?
‘Half-siblings who grew up together in the palace would be closer than cousins.’
He was already a father too.
Shim Gyeong-hee already had another child in her womb, so he couldn’t help but think about the future.
Right now, he and his brother were truly kindred spirits, a meeting of minds, a smile of enlightenment… Anyway, they were very close, but who knew what would happen when the next generation came along.
“I’ll have to tell Father about it discreetly.”
At the same time, a similar conversation was taking place at Grand Prince Hyoryeong’s residence.
And the youngest, Grand Prince Seongnyeong…
“Grand Prince, would you like some sweets?”
“Wow! Sister-in-law, you’re the best!”
He was smiling brightly as he accepted the sweets that Joo So-hwa gave him.
===
– Taejo often regretted making the deposed Crown Prince (Lee Bang-seok) the Crown Prince. This stemmed from making Queen Shindeok his primary wife…
“Did Sungbi also send a letter like this?”
Lee Bang-won frowned.
“Is it not going well?”
“Even the Queen Consort said that there’s no need to push it unnecessarily now that we have the Royal Grandson. And your younger siblings too, tsk.”
Lee Bang-won clicked his tongue.
You could see the irritation rising in him because things weren’t going well.
“The Crown Princess went to her and pleaded, and the Queen Consort moved Sungbi. Through that women’s association, I suppose.
How audacious. I have to acknowledge her skills.”
I kept my mouth shut.
“The succession is a serious matter, but they won’t listen…”
Lee Bang-won shook his head.
I carefully broached the subject.
“But isn’t it also true? It would only be a hindrance for the Royal Grandson to have siblings like Prince Muan and the deposed Crown Prince.”
“…”
Lee Bang-won stared at me with the letter in his hand.
Could it be that his trauma has resurfaced?
“His Majesty has already had four legitimate children, so there’s no need to worry too much, right?”
The kings of this era had a lot of children with their queens.
Joo So-hwa and I will probably have a few more children.
‘And for now, there are nephews and nieces…’
As far as I know, my younger siblings, such as Grand Prince Hyoryeong and Grand Prince Chungnyeong, had a lot of children.
The youngest – at least among the legitimate children – Grand Prince Seongnyeong, I don’t know if he had any descendants, but anyway.
‘Thinking that way, there’s nothing to worry about.’
Wouldn’t illegitimate children or legitimate children from collateral lines be similar in terms of legitimacy?
At my words, Lee Bang-won, who had been holding his head for a while, waved his hand and shouted.
“That’s enough! Let’s forget about this matter.”
“Then I will step down.”
As I left Heejungdang, Wang Ho immediately followed me.
“Everything went as you wished.”
“Hey, don’t talk nonsense. Anyone who hears that will think I orchestrated it.”
“…I misspoke.”
I only conveyed the words obediently.
Son, you should live with many concubines later.
It seems like your father is not cut out for it.
ⓒ Pitkong