There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 264

Yi Bang-won distributed a considerable portion of the received tributes to the royal family and ministers.

With so many auspicious events in the royal family recently, there were many people to share with.

Of course, the greatest joy was the birth of his son, Grand Prince Chungnyeong—for whom he even gifted an elephant—but a significant event still remained.

‘That’s right, it’s my kid’s first birthday party.’

It feels like just yesterday I was getting my topknot [traditional Korean hairstyle for men] grabbed by his mother; time sure flies.

“No-bun, can you prepare everything properly?”

“Of course, Your Highness. Trust me, the special eunuch No-bun.”

No-bun thumped his chest as he spoke.

No-bun may be the least reliable among my close aides, but he has gained quite a bit of experience.

Unbelievably, I heard that many eunuchs find No-bun difficult to deal with.

‘No-bun is the top dog among the eunuchs? What kind of world is this?’

Whether I looked at him with doubtful eyes or not, No-bun diligently ran around preparing for the Crown Prince’s grandson’s first birthday.

The entire East Palace and royal kitchen moved in perfect order under his command.

“It’s the first birthday party of the Crown Prince’s grandson! We must prepare without a single error!”

No-bun sternly urged the tense eunuchs.

===

A party isn’t just about preparing food.

Therefore, I prepared several meticulous events.

I secretly summoned Choi Hae-san from the Military Supplies Bureau to entrust him with development, while also selecting musicians from the Royal Music Institute to give them special orders.

“We need music to enhance the festive mood, but the existing melodies are not suitable.”

Frankly, the music of this era is quite monotonous.

It’s not that I dislike Korean traditional music, but rather that the musical techniques themselves haven’t developed much yet.

Thus, all sorts of birthday songs that I had heard in modern times were being played on repeat by the Royal Music Institute’s musicians.

‘It must have been tough for them to learn this so quickly.’

But as expected of people who make a living with music, they learned it quickly.

It wasn’t exactly traditional Korean music, but the reaction wasn’t bad.

Well, even if there were some old-fashioned people who thought there was etiquette in music, they wouldn’t dare to object in front of me.

Other people just thought it was good music, so it was quite well-received.

“To play two, no, even more melodies simultaneously… and even produce listenable tunes…”

One of the Royal Music Institute officials, whom I was seeing for the first time, mumbled with a somewhat dazed expression, but I didn’t pay much attention as things were busy.

From one side, the rice cake cake made in the royal kitchen was being carried over.

It had candles stuck in it, as I had ordered.

With my family watching, I lit the candles and lifted Yidan up high.

“Hoo, hae. Hoo!”

“Ppoo!”

– Whoosh!

It seemed he wasn’t blowing out the candles because he understood my words, but rather it was just babbling that happened to hit the mark, but the intended purpose was achieved.

After blowing out the candles, a round of celebratory drinks was passed around.

After filling our stomachs with the mountain of food prepared, and as people gradually became tipsy,

No-bun ran over and whispered to me.

“Your Highness, may we bring in the first birthday selection table now?”

“Yes, I think it’s about time.”

The highlight of a first birthday party is, of course, the first birthday selection [a traditional Korean custom where a child chooses an object from a table, believed to predict their future].

Perhaps the custom of the first birthday selection was older than I thought, as it was being done in Joseon of this era as well.

Since the royal family was doing it, it would probably spread quickly to the gentry and commoners.

“Wait, what items did you prepare for the first birthday selection?”

I had attended first birthday parties several times in modern times, but I was curious if there would be any differences with the items used in Joseon.

“Well, for the Crown Prince’s grandson’s first birthday selection, the elders said they would prepare meaningful items, so I don’t really know…”

Oh.

My family members personally prepared meaningful items.

My heart warmed at the thought that this was family.

That is, until I saw the sword being carried over from afar.

“Hey, you. No-bun. What’s that?”

No, there was no need to ask him.

What was being carried over was clearly Yi Seong-gye’s royal bow and transmitted royal sword.

I had seen them often enough during his lifetime that there was no way I wouldn’t recognize them.

“The Former King ordered us to bring them.”

When I grabbed the Induk Palace eunuch who brought the bow and sword and asked, that was the answer I received.

‘This old man.’

Yi Bang-gwa met my gaze and raised his glass with a flushed face.

This wasn’t the end.

A research notebook titled [Records of Gunpowder] and a muscular Diamond Warrior statue were placed on the table.

‘The culprit is too obvious.’

I looked at my younger brothers, and they winked at me.

‘Why does my family have to be like this?’

There are plenty of practical (?) items like brushes, thread, or money, right?

Well, when you think about it, these are also items that can be classified as books, bows, or dolls, so I can’t really complain.

‘What’s this again?’

I picked up the silver mirror that was placed on the table.

“I put it there because it’s the item that brought Dan’s parents together.”

Jo So-hwa answered from the side, her face flushed.

Okay, this might be okay.

In any case, it’s definitely a meaningful item.

It would have been a bit controversial if Yi Seong-gye were still alive.

However, as the items chosen by the family members were placed on the table one by one, a strange heat began to fill the venue.

‘This is starting to feel like a battle of pride over whose item he’ll grab.’

I thought as I looked at the first birthday selection table, which was gradually heating up.

But the process of placing items was not yet over.

“Then, is it my turn now?”

Yi Bang-won, who had a knowing smile, clapped his hands once, and this time, four eunuchs were clinging to something and carrying it in.

“Make way, step aside!”

“We are transporting a divine object! Do not block the way!”

‘That is….’

I rubbed my forehead.

Wasn’t that the Baekje Gilt-bronze Incense Burner [a national treasure of Korea from the Baekje period], which had been carefully stored deep within the palace, being carefully carried in by the eunuchs on either side?

‘A cultural asset is on the first birthday selection table.’

What kind of luxurious first birthday selection table is this?

“It’s the Crown Prince’s grandson’s first birthday selection, so I specially ordered it to be brought out.”

It was polished so brightly that it shone even more than when I first found it.

Yi Bang-won gently stroked its brilliant form with his finger as he spoke.

“What could be better than this as proof that he has the mandate of heaven! If the Crown Prince’s grandson grabs this, I will have no regrets.”

“D-Do as you wish.”

I didn’t even have the energy to object anymore.

Yidan, who knew nothing, looked at me from the table and said.

“Appu!”

“Yes, yes, I’m your dad.”

Yidan, who was about 12 months old, was trying to speak and had already learned the word “dad.”

I was very touched when I first heard it, but that’s that, and we have to do the first birthday selection first.

Yidan crawled towards the objects placed here and there.

“That’s right… pick it up… it’s your great-grandfather’s…”

People cheered as Yidan crawled towards the objects.

Yidan looked around with the eyes of a hawk and began to crawl quickly.

– Grab!

Immediately, exclamations erupted from one side, and sighs from the other.

‘No, this is just a first birthday selection.’

Why are you having a pride competition?

Just enjoy it.

===

The party continued after that.

With an atmosphere of eating and drinking to one’s heart’s content, people started to get drunk one by one.

My uncle, who had been red-faced since earlier, took off his clothes and started dancing.

My younger brothers were laughing at the sight, and the Crown Prince’s grandson was watching with a bright smile.

As such, the day gradually darkened.

Since there weren’t many things to enjoy in this era—though I had improved it a lot—throwing a party like this meant seeing it through to the end.

I had taken this into account when planning the first birthday party schedule and prepared an event.

‘There’s also an event that can only be enjoyed at night.’

As I approached Yi Bang-won, his close aides, who had been talking with him, tactfully made way.

Ha Ryun, Jo Young-moo, Nam Jae, Park Eun, and Han Sang-kyung.

The core of Yi Bang-won’s regime, what’s going on?

“Perhaps I have disturbed your conversation.”

“No, it was almost finished. It’s just that those fellows kept dragging it out, making the conversation longer.”

So, I came at a good time.

I was about to ask what was going on, but Yi Bang-won beat me to it.

“What’s the next event?”

I was curious about the conversation they had just had, but I’ll have to ask Nam Jae later.

I answered confidently.

“Fireworks are prepared.”

I didn’t know this, but fireworks existed in this era as well.

That being said, they were at a rudimentary level, just filling gunpowder and launching it into the air, but it was still a rare sight in this era, enough to be a must-see course when envoys came from Ming China.

But the fireworks that were about to begin would be a bit more special.

I had made thorough preparations for today.

“The Military Supplies Bureau will be showcasing new fireworks.”

As soon as I finished speaking, fireworks soared into the night sky from afar.

– Whee-oong!

To prevent a fire in the palace, the fireworks were being launched from afar using launching cannons.

It was difficult to find a place where, even if they fell, they wouldn’t spread to the surrounding houses.

It was when people’s attention was focused on the launched fireworks.

– Pop pop pop!

The fireworks, which should have gone up into the sky and faded away, suddenly exploded again.

“Gasp!”

With the explosion, the metal stars inside were combusted, revealing their respective reaction colors.

Seeing the colorful fireworks blooming in the night sky, people gaped.

“Wow!”

“What kind of harmony is this!”

“Fireworks like this in the world…”

Even ordinary fireworks in Joseon were something that people rushed to see, so it was only natural to see the sight of colorful fireworks scattering, which was incomparable to that.

Perhaps all the people of Hanyang [old name for Seoul] had come out to watch?

Judging by the pleasant noise coming from outside the palace, that was probably the case.

The Crown Prince’s grandson, held in Jo So-hwa’s arms, stretched out his arms and struggled as if to embrace the fireworks.

The Former King admired the fireworks while drinking, and Do was excited and shouted to the people.

“These are fireworks made with gunpowder that I, I developed!”

“Truly amazing, Grand Prince.”

“Huh, but to think that the color would change depending on the metal…”

Yi Bang-won slightly raised the corners of his mouth as he watched the festive first birthday party scene with the surprise event.

“I have never had such a joyful party in my life.”

Yi Bang-won sat next to me and said quietly.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

I should throw parties like this in the future as well.