There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 31

Of course, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about having a half-sibling.

Even without modern sensibilities, there’s an instinctive difference between full and half-siblings.

‘The thought of my father having a second family and a half-sibling in the modern era is horrifying.’

If it weren’t the Joseon era [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897], I would have caused a huge scene.

If that’s how I feel, how much more would my mother feel?

‘No wife likes her husband having a concubine.’

But even considering that it was normal for people in this era to have concubines, it was a bit strange that my mother was this jealous.

Kim, who had been out of the palace, was about to give birth, so she had people leave her outside to fend for herself.

“You already have several concubines, Father, so why are you reacting so sensitively?”

I asked my maternal uncle, Min Mu-gu, that question while my mother caught her breath.

“My sister’s temper has always been something, but she understood that His Majesty needed to take concubines as the king.”

Min Mu-gu whispered.

That doesn’t mean she wasn’t jealous.

It just means she ‘understood’.

But the reason she’s being so harsh on Kim is…

Just then, my mother clutched her chest and said,

“Kim was my maid, but we were as close as sisters. I treated her like a real sibling.

But you shouldn’t take in black-haired animals [an idiom referring to those who betray you]; that woman, of all people, seduced His Majesty and even got pregnant!”

‘No, it feels like it should have been the other way around.’

Of course, she couldn’t directly blame Yi Bang-won, so she was indirectly attacking him.

Is she acting like this because she feels betrayed that her close friend Kim had an affair with her husband?

“Cough!”

Queen Wongyeong’s breathing became erratic.

She was hyperventilating from her anger.

As my uncles fidgeted, seeing my mother in distress, I quickly grabbed the envelope on the desk.

“Breathe into this!”

And I held it to her nose and mouth.

Tears and snot streaming down her face, my mother hurriedly took it and breathed.

As the amount of carbon dioxide in her body gradually recovered, her breathing stabilized.

‘How angry must she have been?’

I felt sorry for Queen Wongyeong.

But I also felt pity for Kim and her child, who were still staying outside the palace.

‘The child is innocent.’

If it had just ended as a fling, I would have sided with my mother and told her to kick Kim out, but she was already pregnant.

That’s why Father wants to bring them back to the palace somehow.

But the person who controls the inner court and manages the concubines is clearly the Queen, so Yi Bang-won can’t just push it through.

The cold atmosphere between the couple was because of that.

‘Well, they’ll eventually bring her into the palace.’

Either Yi Bang-won will force it, or Queen Wongyeong will surrender.

You can’t just leave a prince outside the palace.

I nodded and thought so.

‘I’m sorry, Mother, but this can’t be helped.’

As I was thinking that, Queen Wongyeong took her mouth off the envelope and said,

“It’s a great relief that our Won-ja [the term for the first son of the Queen] is on my side. If you become the Crown Prince this time, you’ll solidify your position as the heir, so speak strongly to His Majesty about this issue!”

“Yes?”

‘No, I’m not exactly on Mom’s side.’

I was just trying to mediate, but I didn’t expect this bombshell to drop.

I tried to back out before it was too late, but,

“Indeed, His Majesty only dotes on Won-ja, so this might be effective.”

“I’m counting on you, Your Majesty.”

Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil grabbed one of my hands each and said that.

These guys completely stole my chance to speak.

‘Damn it, I shouldn’t have gotten involved in a marital fight.’

This isn’t a problem that can be solved with the cuteness of a beloved son.

‘I’m crazy.’

My habit of buying trouble is showing up here too.

But it’s already something I’ve taken on.

‘I need to find a way to prevent my maternal family from being completely destroyed.’

According to what I saw in the Land of Morning Calm [a common poetic name for Korea], my maternal family will be torn apart in a few years.

If I can improve the relationship between my parents from now on, maybe I can at least save the foundation of my maternal family?

===

“Sigh.”

A sigh escaped me in frustration.

Leaving the Junggung Palace [the Queen’s residence], I walked aimlessly with anger.

‘It’s a problem with no solution.’

My mother and her family are complaining, and my father is worried about the newborn baby.

If I try to forcibly stop this, it’ll only lead to a bigger fight.

“Your Majesty.”

“What.”

I answered No-bun irritably when he called me.

“Uhm, how far are you planning to go?”

“Huh?”

I looked up and realized I was far away from the Junggung Palace.

‘Come to think of it, the Donggung Palace [the Crown Prince’s residence] is in the opposite direction.’

I was walking without thinking and ended up near the Sangwang Palace [palace of the retired king].

I was about to turn back, but I decided to say hello to my granduncle since I was already here.

I headed to the Sangwang Palace.

“Won-ja has come to greet the Sangwang!”

When No-bun shouted to the Sangwang Palace’s eunuch, I was soon guided inside.

Just then, Sangwang Jeongjong was lying down with his head on his grandaunt’s lap, getting his ears cleaned.

“Your Majesty, Won-ja has come.”

At his grandaunt’s call, Jeongjong groggily got up.

I bowed before him.

“I should have greeted the Sangwang as soon as I returned to Gaeseong, but I was late.”

“Cough, hmm, what were you doing until now?”

Jeongjong asked with a feigned pout.

“The Sangwang has been subtly anticipating Won-ja’s greeting since this morning.”

My grandaunt said with a kind smile.

Then Jeongjong pretended to pinch his grandaunt’s lips.

“Goodness, me… When… did I do that…?”

“Oh my, I said something unnecessary.”

The Sangwang’s wife laughed as she dodged Jeongjong’s attack.

‘This couple is really close.’

Even though they don’t have any children.

‘I wish my parents would learn from them.’

There’s a good example nearby, but they’re still fighting.

I shook my head.

“So, are His Majesty and his wife both at peace?”

“Doesn’t Your Majesty know better than I do, who was in Hanyang?”

At my words, the Sangwang’s wife made a bitter expression.

The Sangwang spoke as if he didn’t like it.

“Husbands and wives… should cherish each other… I… don’t have a son, but… I’m not remarrying… Why is His Majesty trying to bring in a concubine… Tsk.”

“Then please tell Father to stop, Sangwang.”

Then the Sangwang’s wife said,

“Your Majesty, I heard she already had a child. Would that be possible?”

“Then… bring her into… the palace. Leaving her… outside… will only… cause more trouble…”

My granduncle quickly changed his words.

‘You’re not helping.’

I didn’t expect much from the start.

I clutched my head and said,

“I want to resolve this atmosphere by the time of the Crown Prince’s investiture. What should I do?”

The Crown Prince’s investiture, which should be joyful, is going to turn into a memorial service because of this gloomy marital fight.

“A solution to this situation…”

Jeongjong tilted his head and said,

“I wouldn’t know.”

You’re really not helping.

===

In the end, I had no choice but to persuade Yi Bang-won again.

“Didn’t Father also suffer because of Hyun-bi’s illegitimate sons?”

Strictly speaking, Yi Bang-beon and Yi Bang-seok weren’t illegitimate sons, but I said it anyway.

In any case, it’s true that Yi Bang-won was troubled.

But the reverse psychology didn’t work.

“That’s why I made you the Crown Prince, not someone else. Can’t your half-sibling even enter the palace?”

‘He’s desperate because his child is involved.’

Yi Bang-won is devoted to his children, if nothing else.

That affection has been focused on me until now, but it seems it’s not that it doesn’t apply to other children, even illegitimate ones.

“I also think that point is unavoidable. So, please save Mother’s face once…”

“No way. My maternal family is already powerful enough. If I beg them to let me bring in a concubine, they’ll think they’ve won.”

My father was either going to make my mother give in, or he was going to ignore the authority of the inner court and bring Kim and her child into the palace.

‘How can a couple be so alike?’

Their positions were parallel.

It’s said that a husband and wife should follow each other, but this is too much.

‘There’s a problem with how the couple treats each other. A spouse isn’t an enemy to be defeated. It would be good if you could show tolerance and understanding during the adjustment period.

Then I’ll see you in four weeks.’

It wasn’t a problem that could be solved by saying that.

Political issues were also intertwined, making it a real mess.

Yi Bang-won said to me one last time,

“Try to persuade your mother instead of me. Tell her to stop her useless jealousy!”

As I recalled those words, a shadow fell over me.

Thwack!

A wooden sword hit my head.

I quickly blocked it with my sword, but tears welled up in my eyes in an instant.

Recently, Yi Seong-gye started using a wooden sword instead of a bamboo stick in sparring with me.

‘It means my skills have improved, but it hurts like hell.’

“Focus, focus!”

“I can’t focus because of family problems.”

“How often has this family been without problems that you’re acting like this is new?”

That’s also true.

I looked up at Yi Seong-gye and asked,

“Grandfather, aren’t you also knowledgeable about having multiple partners?”

“You rascal, multiple partners? That was normal back then.”

His concubine, my biological grandmother Queen Shinui, and his legal wife, Queen Shindeok.

How did Yi Seong-gye maintain balance between the two?

“It’s love.”

“Eck.”

I made a strange noise without realizing it at the cheesy words.

“Originally, these are problems that can’t be solved rationally. Since emotions are the problem, you have to solve it emotionally.”

“Emotionally…”

“Even though it’s a political marriage, love blooms as you live together. Emotions fade over time, but you have to remember them from time to time.

Besides, didn’t your father and mother fall in love while staying at Min Je’s house together?”

Remembering the feelings they had for each other is the solution.

Not the authority of the inner court, the issue of in-laws, or the change in the power dynamics that will occur with the addition of a new member to the royal family.

But Taejong and Queen Wongyeong.

It’s a matter of their feelings.

‘Maybe… I can solve it?’

I muttered to myself.

===

“…You told me to get flowers?”

No-bun asked with wide eyes.

He had the same look as always, ‘Why is this guy doing this?’

“Why, you got a problem with that?”

“It’s not that, but where am I supposed to get flowers in this winter…”

“Find them somewhere, you idiot.”

“Even if you order me to, I don’t have the ability to bloom flowers in winter.”

No-bun’s words were also valid.

The reason why I was trying to get flowers was,

‘Wasn’t there a flower garden in the backyard of Min Je’s house?’

Because of the story Yi Seong-gye told me.

Flowers were essential to the success of the operation.

“Yeah, what would I expect from you.”

I should have made something like a dirt room in advance.

If I had made it for use in times like these, I could have laid out a mat and become a fortune teller.

‘But there’s always a way.’

I grinned.

End

ⓒ Pitkong