There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 281

I had a feeling my wife’s belly was bigger than it should be for just one baby.

It wasn’t a buy-one-get-one-free deal, but seeing two identical daughters wrapped in swaddling clothes and crying made me feel a bit overwhelmed.

“Who’s the older one and who’s the younger one?”

This is Joseon, after all.

A country where respecting elders is paramount.

We couldn’t have a situation where someone born even a minute later becomes the older sibling, disrupting the established order.

Of course, as if they weren’t born and raised in the Confucian state of Joseon, the midwives answered professionally.

“The one on the left is the elder princess, and the one on the right is the younger princess. We’ve marked their feet with cinnabar [a red pigment] threads, so there’s no need to worry about confusion.”

After the explanation, I could distinguish them slightly.

‘Their personalities seem different too.’

The older daughter on the left was crying as if the sky was falling, and the younger daughter on the right was hesitant to cry, as if she was watching her older sister.

Even though they look the same, they are different.

I chuckled.

Well, what does it matter?

As long as they grow up healthy.

===

Just like in modern times, Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] is as important as the New Year in Joseon.

Or perhaps even more so, considering it’s an agricultural nation.

With the birth of my daughters coinciding with Chuseok, I issued a general amnesty, postponed executions, and began preparing for the holiday in earnest.

“This year’s harvest is the best we’ve seen in recent times. Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

Fortunately, we had a bountiful harvest this year, and the entire capital was filled with a festive atmosphere.

“There are those who attribute this year’s abundant harvest to Your Majesty’s divine grace, offering sacrifices and bowing to your portrait. What should we do about this?”

I wish I didn’t have to hear such things.

‘I put in so much effort, and they’re attributing it to divine power?’

Although the climate helped, this unprecedented harvest is thanks to the spread of compost, irrigation improvements, the distribution of money-makers (cash crops), and the permission of transplanting rice seedlings in the three southern provinces.

They don’t know any of that and want to feed me sacrificial food while I’m still alive.

‘Are they going to worship me as some kind of agricultural deity?’

Shamans will deify anyone who is even slightly famous or has a reputation for being spiritually powerful.

‘Are we going to end up with a royal religion?’

Even now, King Taejo [King Yi Seong-gye, founder of Joseon] is being worshipped everywhere.

He’s almost as popular as Choi Young [a famous Goryeo general].

I’m not sure if Grandfather Yi Bang-gwa, who isn’t as popular as Yi Seong-gye but has spread so many martial arts novels, will become a god later on.

‘I heard he’s doing well, so I should ask him about it later.’

Unlike my great-uncle, who is spending his retirement leisurely, the current king has a lot to do even during holidays.

Chuseok is an important event for the royal family. We must treat the people to a feast and, above all, pay respects to the late kings by holding the Chuseok memorial service.

Excluding the four posthumously honored ancestors, Yi Seong-gye is the only deceased king, so it won’t be too difficult.

“In addition to the usual offerings, should we offer the foods that King Taejo enjoyed during his lifetime?”

“Of course.”

Yi Seong-gye’s memorial table includes Chogye chicken [a type of seasoned chicken], ice cream, donuts, and other foods he often enjoyed during his lifetime.

As someone who remembers the memorial tables of modern times, it was a surreal scene, but after doing this for several years, I’ve gotten used to it.

That’s why I created a special beverage for this Chuseok.

“And let’s present the newly made ‘Hyeonju’ (玄酒) [black water].”

Hyeonju is a black and clear water that was used in ancient times when there was no alcohol.

In Joseon, purified water is offered in ritual vessels according to etiquette, but it doesn’t look particularly black to me, so this is a historical inaccuracy.

Therefore, as the monarch of a Confucian state, I must reinvent Hyeonju.

“Kuh! That’s the taste!”

The taste of the sparkling carbonation made me exclaim involuntarily.

It’s been so long since I’ve tasted cola.

Of course, real cola is probably growing somewhere in South America, and this is just carbonated water.

‘It took a lot of time to make the device, but the principle itself is simple.’

Heating limestone on the floor produces quicklime and carbon dioxide, and connecting this device to a container filled with water applies pressure as the carbon dioxide moves.

Naturally, carbon dioxide dissolves in the water, creating carbonated water.

The reason why cola is black is because of caramel coloring, so you can get a similar color by simmering sugar.

‘Although it’s not real cola.’

The wave of emotion that came with being able to taste something similar was overwhelming.

“Your Majesty…”

On the other hand, the expressions of the officials looking at me became subtle.

“I’m not sure if this is really the Hyeonju mentioned in the Book of Rites…”

“Why not? Isn’t it black and clear?”

Isn’t this real Hyeonju?

Surely the ancients also enjoyed pizza and cola.

‘Above all.’

My grandfather would have loved it.

They say that memorial services are originally an expression of affection for ancestors.

I really wanted to offer this.

Because I made it.

Because it’s a food created in the world I’m changing.

Even oil and sugar, which used to be so precious that even the royal family couldn’t use them freely, have become incomparably more common than before.

Even ordinary people can afford to buy them if they set their minds to it.

With that in mind, isn’t the chicken and cola on this memorial table meaningful in its own way?

…It’s definitely not because I wanted to drink cola instead of alcohol.

===

Since we held the memorial service, we should naturally partake in the post-ceremony feasting.

Normally, the royal family would have used the excuse of post-ceremony feasting to drink and make merry, but now everyone was focused on the newly created Hyeonju.

– Glug

People swallowed as they watched the bubbles rise.

The foods I’ve created so far have all been praised as masterpieces, so they were expecting to see what I would show them this time.

And carbonated drinks wonderfully met those expectations.

Yi Bang-gwa’s mouth, after drinking Hyeonju, soon formed a smile like that of Buddha.

“My, my mouth is pleasantly burning… !”

Aside from the taste of carbonation, it was a gustatory experience that the people of Joseon had never experienced in their lives.

“Ugh!”

“What is this!”

The amount of information transmitted from the tongue was so great that everyone’s eyes were spinning.

‘It’s like the reaction of a baby who drank carbonated drinks for the first time.’

I’ve seen it on YouTube.

It was definitely a baby screaming at the intense sensation of carbonation.

However, the addictiveness of carbonation lies in that very sensation.

Even Hyoryeong, who can’t drink alcohol, was happily pouring Hyeonju into his mouth.

“Brother, today I experienced a new world.”

Grand Prince Chungnyeong took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“It’s easy to make as long as you have a manufacturing device. Drink as much as you want today.”

Just don’t eat too much.

In particular, there were many types because I did a lot of experiments.

‘The Hyeonju offered as ritual wine is simply carbonated water mixed with sugar.’

Although this alone is touching, it’s somewhat bland.

In times like these, you have to enjoy it in various flavors.

‘The easiest thing to do is fruit juice.’

Fortunately, there were many tangerines brought in from Jeju Island.

For reference, since the Uniform Land Tax Law was implemented, tributes have been completely abolished, so these tangerines were all bought at full price.

They are items with a fair trade certification mark.

The subtle tangerine scent and the sparkling carbonation.

And the sweet taste made by adding plenty of sugar that is constantly coming in from Ryukyu.

The carbonated water made in this way reminded me of ‘that’ I tasted in modern times.

“Hyeonju is good, but I like this drink better. What is this called?”

“Ah, that.”

I was embarrassed by Do’s question.

It’s still undecided.

“If you haven’t named it yet, may I try to name it?”

“Did you think of a good name?”

“Yes.”

Do nodded confidently at my question and opened his mouth.

“The drink hits (打) the mouth like a flame (煥), so let’s call it Hwan-tta…”

“Wait, wait!”

That’s plagiarism, you idiot.

“Then what are you going to name it?”

Do asked sullenly.

“I don’t know.”

The color isn’t black, so I can’t call it Hyeonju.

‘If you think about it, aren’t carbonated drinks a kind of tea?’

Barley tea is tea, so why shouldn’t carbonated drinks made by extracting carbon dioxide be tea?

“Hmm, it is a tea that gives people the greatest pleasure, so how about calling it ‘Hwancha’ (歡茶) [Happy Tea]?”

“I don’t know what’s different from the name I just made.”

Do said sullenly while sipping Hwancha.

It’s different.

One stroke is missing, so it’s definitely different.

Hwancha is my original drink. Remember that.

===

After finishing the Chuseok memorial service and throwing a big feast for the people, I’ve done everything I can as a king.

Now, all that’s left is to leisurely enjoy the rest of Chuseok with my family.

I wonder what others are doing right now.

“One of my classmates said he’s going to play Imjeonrok [a classic Korean novel] with his cousins after the memorial service.”

Chungnyeong has such a guy among his former classmates.

The Chuseok scenery is the same now as it was then.

I suddenly felt a sense of kinship.

“Shall we take the elders out to see the moon?”

During Chuseok, there is a banquet called Wanwolyeon [Full Moon Appreciation], where everyone watches the full moon together.

“Where to?”

“Of course, Jecheonjeong (濟川亭) [a pavilion].”

It’s a famous spot that has been around since the Goryeo Dynasty, and kings often visited it because it’s a great place to enjoy the scenery of the Han River and watch the moon at the same time.

‘I haven’t been able to go there often since I ascended the throne.’

The reason is simple.

‘There are so many people.’

Just the former King and Queen, the retired King and Queen, and us and our siblings are already a lot of people.

It’s obvious that Jecheonjeong will be crowded with children.

So, I kept putting it off because I was busy with work, but this time I made up my mind.

I took my half-siblings with me on the procession.

“It’s nice to be out here.”

The bright full moon was shining brightly, and the Han River flowed leisurely beside Jecheonjeong.

It was like a painting.

“Nobun! Try to catch me!”

The atmosphere would have been really nice if it weren’t for Dan running around, dodging Nobun.

“Leave him alone, it’s fun for kids to run around.”

Yi Bang-won said so, so I have nothing to say.

We rented this place, so it’s not really a public place.

Fortunately, the gathered family members were just looking at Dan with affection.

I don’t know what the daughters wrapped in swaddling clothes think of their older brother.

As the night deepened and the moon, which had been briefly obscured by clouds, reappeared, people began to lower their heads one by one.

They are starting to make wishes.

“They say the full moon grants wishes, right?”

“Yes, there is such a story. Aren’t you making a wish, Father?”

“I have fulfilled all my wishes. I even passed the throne on to you, so what more could I wish for?”

Yi Bang-won said with a genuinely relieved expression.

“Why aren’t you making a wish?”

“Well, isn’t it all superstition?”

I didn’t want to spoil Joo So-hwa’s labor, who was making wishes to the moon with her sisters-in-law over there, so I asked back in a small voice.

Yi Bang-won chuckled and said.

“A wish is something that you make for your children, even if you don’t believe in it yourself. I’ve raised all my children well, so I have no regrets, but you’re not there yet, are you?”

No, if you say that, it makes me look like I have no affection.

Well, I don’t know about the full moon, but shooting stars do grant wishes.

I clasped my hands together.

What should I pray for?

‘Is that the only thing?’

There are many wishes, but looking at the history of this family, there is only one thing worth wishing for.

‘Please don’t let our children fight.’

Please.

Children usually grow up fighting, but our family is a bit different.

ⓒ Pitkong