There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 3

< The Scoundrel of the Joseon Royal Family (2) >

– When the heavens show signs to indicate good or ill fortune, the sage takes them as a standard.

In Joseon [Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1897] at this time, the prevailing belief was that ‘natural disasters occur because of the interaction between humans and the heavens.’

However, Yi Bang-won [King Taejong of Joseon, 1367-1422], this man, did not believe those words.

Even by his own reckoning, he hadn’t exactly committed good deeds, but wasn’t he the one who ultimately ascended to the throne?

If there truly was divine punishment, he should have received it when he assassinated Jeong Mong-ju [a prominent scholar and statesman, 1337-1392].

So, as people grew uneasy watching the meteor, he inwardly sneered, but then,

“The Heir Apparent is ill! What in the world does this mean?”

“He, he shows no signs of illness, but strangely, His Highness’s consciousness has not returned.”

From that day on, when the Heir Apparent truly began to fall ill, he was beside himself with worry.

No fever, no symptoms.

The royal physician said it seemed to be a loss of energy and prescribed medicine in every way possible, but there was no improvement.

However, he couldn’t neglect state affairs, having only recently ascended to the throne, so he came to the throne room, but he couldn’t focus on his work.

“The Heir Apparent has been ill since the heavenly omen, so this is a sign that the heavens are sending a disaster as a warning? Those Seowoongwan [Office of Astronomy] bastards have gone too far!”

After punishing all those who uttered blasphemous words with beatings and dismissal, a court attendant came running in quick steps.

“Your Majesty, the Heir Apparent has opened his eyes!”

“What?”

He was still attending to state affairs, but Yi Bang-won didn’t care and jumped up.

It wasn’t just any child, but his eldest son, who had barely grown to this age after losing three sons in a row.

Then, he immediately rushed to the Heir Apparent’s chambers.

“Won-ja [Heir Apparent]!”

===

I was taken aback and stared at Yi Bang-won.

It was only natural, as the man who seemed like he wouldn’t bleed a drop even if stabbed was soaking my shoulder.

Seeing Yi Bang-won crying, something welled up in my heart as well.

Could it be that the spirit of Grand Prince Yangnyeong [the historical Heir Apparent, 1394-1462] had merged with me?

Without realizing it, I raised my small hand and placed it on Yi Bang-won’s back.

– Pat, pat

‘I know, I know.’

Yi Bang-won had rushed over so quickly that his attire wasn’t even properly arranged.

‘The love of a father is a scary thing.’ To bring tears out of this iron-blooded man.

Yi Bang-won hugged me tightly for a long time, and only released me when the royal physician, who had belatedly followed, entered.

Yi Bang-won questioned him, watching the royal physician examine me.

“How is the Heir Apparent’s health? Is there anything wrong?”

“Yes, His Highness’s pulse is normal, and there is nothing particularly unusual.”

‘Can they really know everything with the medicine of this era?’

If it were Korea now, they would have taken a CT scan, but even though he’s a royal physician, it’s hard to believe he can be so sure just by checking the pulse.

I had heard stories of several Joseon kings dying from quack doctors when I was in modern times, so it was even more concerning.

‘Well, I heard that Grand Prince Yangnyeong lived until the time of Sejo [King Sejo of Joseon, 1417-1468] in the original history, so there probably isn’t anything seriously wrong.’

I was just nodding in agreement, but Yi Bang-won seemed to take it as some kind of signal.

“Thank goodness, really thank goodness.”

Only then did Yi Bang-won collapse and mutter to himself, abandoning all decorum.

He looked as if his soul had completely left his body and then returned.

‘The Heir Apparent must have lost consciousness because I entered this body.’

If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have had such a scare, so I felt guilty.

“Father, I am alright. Please stop your tears.”

I tried my best to imitate the way Grand Prince Yangnyeong spoke in my memories.

Grand Prince Yangnyeong was a filial son who left his infamy in history, but the feelings I had for Yi Bang-won right now were genuine.

“How can I stop my tears? If you had passed away, I was going to wipe out all those who didn’t take proper care of you!”

Yi Bang-won said, still not calmed down.

Wipe them out.

I almost caused innocent people to lose their heads.

‘Yi Bang-won, that’s definitely him.’

Watching the scene of a parent worried sick about their son instantly switching to Kill Bang-won mode, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘But if this happens, it won’t just be one royal physician who dies, will it?’

I may be alive, but there are people who didn’t properly care for me.

As I glanced over, Nobun’s face next to me turned pale.

He had dared to doze off in front of the unconscious Heir Apparent, so if I opened my mouth, he would immediately disappear like dew before the executioner’s blade.

Nobun looked at me with a desperate expression.

His lips opened towards me.

– Gulp, gulp

Even someone without any sense could understand this signal.

I watched his desperate plea for help with my arms crossed, then chuckled.

‘Alright, you rascal.’

I nodded slightly.

Only then did Nobun breathe a sigh of relief.

He must have felt like the executioner’s blade had come right up to his nose before he barely survived.

‘Did I just get a hold of a weakness?’

The close aide is the prince’s protector and monitor.

I didn’t particularly want to bully a poor friend without balls, but to broaden my range of movement in the narrow and stuffy palace, it would be good to keep his mouth shut.

I already have many plans, and I can’t do things while listening to the court attendant’s ‘That cannot be done.’

I rubbed my palms together and looked at Nobun.

Nobun felt something ominous and lowered his head as soon as our eyes met.

But there was no way I would let him go like that.

‘You’re my cash cow.’

Nobun should have seen the wicked smile on my face.

===

Even after confirming that my condition was okay, Yi Bang-won didn’t leave the room easily.

Was he worried about his sick eldest son?

Only after the royal physician spoke did Yi Bang-won turn his head.

“Your Majesty, the Heir Apparent needs to recover his energy. Please go back to attending to state affairs.”

“But······.”

“I am alright, Father.”

At that answer, Yi Bang-won reluctantly turned his steps.

“I will come back with your mother in a little while. The Retired King also heard of your illness and said he would stop by Sijwagung [Heir Apparent’s residence].”

I was curious about the words Yi Bang-won left as he stood up.

‘Retired King?’

At first, I thought he was referring to ‘that person,’ but recalling the memories of the original body, it was a title referring to the 2nd king, Jeongjong [King Jeongjong of Joseon, 1357-1419].

Come to think of it, Jeongjong was the Retired King even in the Morning Land [reference to a story or game].

‘Jeongjong is a bit······.’

To be honest, I wasn’t very interested.

He didn’t have a big role in the Morning Land either.

– Hey, but he’s a person who contributed a lot to the battle and the founding of Joseon. He’s not covered much in the media~

Jinhyuk-hyung’s lecture seemed to echo in my ear, but I waved it away with my hand.

Was there a fly sitting there?

What I’m really interested in is that person.

“Won’t Grandfather come?”

The founder of Joseon, Yi Seong-gye [King Taejo of Joseon, 1335-1408].

He played the role of the main character in ‘Morning Land,’ so as a loyal viewer, I wanted to see him at least once.

I still fell into Joseon in this period, so I should see the real Yi Seong-gye at least once.

“······.”

Yi Bang-won’s mouth was tightly shut.

After thinking for a long time, he threw a word.

“Do you want to see your grandfather?”

No, well, it’s not like I want to see him so badly.

I’ve seen the bad relationship between the two in dramas so many times, am I touching a nerve?

I said as if making an excuse.

“I just, I think I’ll feel relieved if Grandfather is here.”

Yi Bang-won stopped right there at those words.

I thought to myself looking at that figure.

‘Did it work?’

Originally, children look for adults when they are sick.

In Africa, I even saw children who wouldn’t feel relieved and receive treatment unless their mom, dad, older sibling, grandma, and grandpa were all there.

I guess I got through this well.

As expected, Yi Bang-won loosened his expression.

After glancing at my face, he left these words.

“······Okay, I will have him brought to Gaeseong [ancient capital of Korea] quickly.”

Taejong [King Taejong’s title] left the room as hastily as when he came.

He looked like he had remembered something he had forgotten.

‘Bring him to Gaeseong?’

Meanwhile, I tilted my head at the newly created question.

The words to bring him to Gaeseong mean that Yi Seong-gye isn’t in Gaeseong.

‘Then where is he now?’

Is he touring Mount Kumgang [a famous mountain in North Korea]?

===

“Your Majesty, what should we do with Park An-ui, who did not report the incident of the gisaeng [female entertainers] and the government official who drowned in Danyang?”

“The death of a person is a serious matter. He dared not to report this to the king, so he abandoned his duties as a magistrate. Immediately dismiss Ji Danyang County Military Affairs Officer Park An-ui.”

Taejong’s expression, which had retreated from before the Heir Apparent, had already become that of a perfect monarch.

While handling affairs with a stiff face, he suddenly asked the Seungji [Royal Secretary] next to him.

“Does the Retired King still not want to return home?”

The Retired King was not originally a monarch, so he found the narrow palace life stifling.

After stepping down from the throne (semi-forcibly), he left the capital and went to Boge Mountain, Anbyeon-bu, and Pyeongju, spending his days touring.

As for Yi Bang-won, he had a original sin – of course, Yi Bang-won himself did not think it was a sin – so he had not particularly restricted the Retired King’s outings, but this outing was getting a bit long.

Even though he had heard the news that the Heir Apparent was ill.

Yi Bang-won tapped the desk with a complicated heart.

Why did the Heir Apparent want to see the Retired King?

Although it is said that love flows downward, the relationship between the two grandchildren was not very affectionate.

The Retired King would click his tongue whenever he saw the Heir Apparent.

Saying that his behavior was reckless.

‘He’s still a child, so it can be like that.’

Thinking about it, anger suddenly rose. It will naturally get better over time.

Yi Bang-won tried to calm his mind.

In any case, for that reason, the Heir Apparent also avoided Yi Seong-gye.

‘The Heir Apparent, who had a hard time with his grandfather, suddenly wants to see the Retired King.’

A child’s mind changes as quickly as the morning and evening, but isn’t it strange?

Could it be that he read something from the Retired King’s longer-than-usual outing?

“Where does he say he is heading now?”

“I heard he is going to the Northeast to look around his hometown.”

“······.”

Yi Bang-won swallowed his breath.

As you get older, you tend to miss your hometown, so it can be like that.

However, the Northeast not only had the Retired King’s memories but also countless people and soldiers who followed him.

Ominous imaginations came to mind.

Such an imagination that he, as Yi Seong-gye’s son, could not bring himself to utter.

Yi Bang-won said.

“······The Heir Apparent is seriously ill, so tell the Retired King to return quickly. Even if I have to send Great Master Muhak [a Buddhist monk and advisor to Yi Seong-gye].”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Heir Apparent regained consciousness today, but the Gajun Hundo (駕前訓導, later Seonjeongwan) [a type of royal guard] escorting him did not bother to point that out.

The king did not like those who added to his words.

‘The Retired King used to return to the palace even when he was on an outing if there were envoys or family matters. He will do so this time as well.’

However, the Heir Apparent’s words were different.

‘I think I’ll feel relieved if Grandfather is here.’

He can only feel relieved if the Retired King stays in Gaeseong.

Was it a coincidence that his son’s words were read that way?

‘A grandson wants to see his grandfather.’

Yi Bang-won shook his head.

There’s no way his son, who is only nine years old, would have spoken with such political implications. His nerves must be too sensitive.

No matter how much he cherishes his eldest son, he must accurately measure his capacity.

‘The Retired King will receive the news of the Heir Apparent and return to Gaeseong, and the Heir Apparent must have said those words because he wanted to see his grandfather.’

Yi Bang-won believed so.

But that expectation was miserably betrayed.

< The Scoundrel of the Joseon Royal Family (2) > End