There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 32

< The Power of Language (1) >

Instead of solving it rationally, solve it emotionally.

To follow that advice, I needed the cooperation of someone else, not myself.

So, I sought out Lee Bang-won again.

“I will be taking Mother for a stroll in the back garden in a few days, so please be there at that time, Father.”

“What? That’s like pouring oil on the fire. You want me to meet your mother there?”

“Then are you going to live without seeing her for the rest of your life?”

I pressed him, and Lee Bang-won flinched.

He probably hadn’t considered that either. They were simply sulking at each other.

“Besides, if this goes well, you will also achieve what you desire, Father.”

“What I desire…”

Lee Bang-won’s eyes changed.

I had succeeded in persuading him.

Next, I headed to Jojiso [a government office responsible for crafting and manufacturing items for the royal court].

A few days later.

I was walking through the palace’s back garden with my mother.

“So, your father did that before…”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

While half-listening to my mother’s endless complaints about her husband – taking advantage of being alone with her son – I quietly slipped away.

My mother, lost in her grumbling, didn’t notice and continued deeper into the garden.

There, she encountered someone.

“Oh…”

“Yeobo [a term of endearment, like ‘dear’ or ‘honey’].”

It was Lee Bang-won, who had come to stroll here as I had suggested a few days ago.

He used the title he called her in Saga [likely referring to a place or time in their past], not the one used for the Queen, so it seemed my father was determined.

“Hmph!”

On the other hand, Queen Wongyeong, still furious, tried to turn away, but Lee Bang-won quickly grabbed her arm.

“It’s been a while since we’ve spoken face to face. Please, calm down.”

“How can I calm down in this situation!” Queen Wongyeong shouted.

However, Lee Bang-won didn’t relent and pulled her arm.

Then, he pointed in one direction.

“Look over there.”

“What on earth is this…”

My mother, who had been grumbling, was rendered speechless.

A flower garden in the back of the palace, with flowers blooming profusely.

My mother covered her mouth as she looked at it.

If the weather was nice, the palace maids would come out to see the flowers, so it wouldn’t be strange under normal circumstances, but it was the middle of winter now.

“What kind of miracle is this?”

My mother asked in surprise.

‘It’s not a miracle (造化) [Jo-hwa, meaning ‘creation’ or ‘nature’s work’], it’s artificial flowers (造花) [Jo-hwa, meaning ‘artificial flower’].’

It was all fake flowers made of paper that I had instructed Jojiso to make.

‘I suffered so much teaching them how to fold paper flowers.’

My fingers still stung.

I planted them one by one in the flower beds of the back garden to create a scene like this.

Lee Bang-won’s voice was heard from afar.

“Do you remember the day we first met?”

“…How could I forget.”

“All sorts of flowers blooming profusely behind your father’s house. I went to see them and met you for the first time, didn’t I?”

My maternal grandfather, Min Je, was my father’s teacher.

So, Lee Bang-won married his teacher’s daughter.

They fell in love there.

“I vowed that day to live my life remembering that moment. But as time passed, my resolve seems to have faded.”

“…”

“The reason I created this flower garden is because I recently remembered that vow.”

‘Saying that without batting an eye.’

You’re shamelessly taking credit for what I spoon-fed you.

However, I couldn’t jump out and make a scene right now, so I endured it.

Lee Bang-won bent down and picked up a paper flower.

Then, he handed it to Queen Wongyeong.

“I hope it’s not too late. The only person I love is you. More than any other woman.”

“…”

My mother was silent for a long time.

Clearly, her reaction when she first saw the flower garden wasn’t bad.

‘Is it a failure?’

I nervously bit my nails.

Would this cold war continue like this?

Until the Crown Prince is appointed?

As expected, my mother said in a sharp voice.

“Do you think I’ll change my mind just because of this?”

“I will try.”

“You always just say that… !”

– Hug

I opened my eyes wide.

Suddenly, Queen Wongyeong jumped into Lee Bang-won’s arms.

‘It worked!’

Lee Bang-won must have thought the same, as he hugged my mother back and gave me a thumbs up.

‘Mother was not only dissatisfied with the concubine herself, but also afraid of losing Father’s love.’

This is a problem that cannot be solved by simply having three legitimate sons.

Queen Wongyeong wanted power, but she also wanted her husband.

‘This event resolved that doubt. It’s all thanks to me.’

If I had run a dating agency in modern times, I might have been successful.

I turned away, leaving the couple to confirm their love for each other.

===

“Thanks to you, we overcame a major crisis. I’m truly blessed to have a good son.”

“I did it for the peace of the family.”

If it turns into an emotional fight and their relationship falls apart, it will only damage the reputation of the royal family.

‘Well, if history is anything to go by, the maternal family will also be ruined, so they’ll also suffer losses.’

If it weren’t for this reason, I would have sided with my mother and not let Lee Bang-won have his way.

“This time, I officially granted Lady Kim the title of Royal Concubine and brought her into the palace. Lady Kim is very grateful to you. She will be a source of strength for you in the future, no matter what happens.”

“Tell her to repay me with money if she’s grateful.”

What power does Lady Kim, who has just become a concubine, have to help me?

She’s been targeted by my mother, so her palace life will be difficult from now on.

Besides, I’m now the Crown Prince, aren’t I?

To be precise, I will officially become the Crown Prince after this event is over.

“Have the various officials and members of the royal family take their places!”

A Bureau for the Ceremony of Investiture was established to invest me as Crown Prince.

The officials of that bureau were said to prepare the necessary ceremonial objects and ensure that the etiquette was flawless.

The person announcing the procedures of the investiture ceremony to the civil and military officials here now was also an official of the Bureau for the Ceremony of Investiture.

“The three monarchs enter!”

Originally, the king, wearing the 冕服 (myeonbok) [myeonbok, a ceremonial robe worn by the emperor and high-ranking officials], would attend the ceremony in the main hall with the Crown Prince, but now there are three people with the title of prince.

Grand Royal Ancestor Yi Seong-gye,

Royal Ancestor Yi Bang-gwa,

And the current King, Yi Bang-won.

And me, following closely behind these three.

‘Is this the Three Admirals?’

As I watched the three of them wearing the 冕服 (myeonbok) [myeonbok, a ceremonial robe worn by the emperor and high-ranking officials] and sitting side by side on the jade throne, majestic background music rang in my ears.

– Ppuuuuu

The sound of the 大吹打 (daechwita) [daechwita, a traditional Korean military band music] resounded.

The official read out my name, virtues, achievements, etc., and the music resounded again.

This Crown Prince investiture ceremony was supposed to be a very solemn occasion, but the people gathered were who they were.

The Royal Ancestor was dozing off, and Yi Seong-gye, with a bored expression, asked Yi Bang-won.

“When will this be over?”

Seonggye Cola says what he wants!

I, the person being invested, was so bored that I was about to go crazy.

It’s winter now, so it’s somewhat fortunate, but I’m suffering in this 冕服 (myeonbok) [myeonbok, a ceremonial robe worn by the emperor and high-ranking officials] that doesn’t ventilate well.

The sudden discomfort made my head spin.

The surrounding family members, officials, and members of the royal family were not even in my sight.

“In addition, in accordance with the investiture of the Crown Prince, the various princes will also be granted the title of Grand Prince, with the second, Bo, as Grand Prince Hyoryeong, the third…”

Oh, when will this damn ceremony be over?

===

The tedious investiture ceremony is over!

I have now shed the title of Grandson of the King and officially become the Crown Prince.

Many people offered their congratulations, but I was so exhausted that I was just so-so.

It’s not that I’m not happy at all, but it’s about the same level of joy I felt when I was promoted from Private First Class to Corporal in the military?

‘It’s less emotional than I thought.’

Perhaps it’s because it was a natural progression.

I am the eldest son of my father, and I was originally appointed as Crown Prince in history, so wasn’t it inevitable that my position would come someday?

If I were still the immature Yangnyeong, I would have been excited.

‘And I would have acted like I had absolute power.’

But now I am Super Yangnyeong, fused with the spirit of a modern person.

I don’t do things that are out of character.

Therefore, even at the banquet that followed, I maintained a strict, serious, and solemn expression as I accepted the cups offered by the officials.

“Your Highness, Crown Prince, please accept this cup!”

“Thank you, Prime Minister.”

“I will also offer a cup!”

“Thank you, Second State Councillor.”

“I will also…”

“Gulp.”

Of course, this is not alcohol but barley tea.

Even if I only accepted one cup from each of the officials congratulating me, I, as a child, would become drunk, and Lee Bang-won would not allow that.

Still, I kept drinking as they gave it to me, and my stomach felt bloated.

‘My breath smells like barley.’

Living Point.

If you drink a lot of barley tea, your breath smells like barley.

I should make a note of that.

At that time, someone came trudging towards me to offer me another cup.

His face was flushed red, as if he had already had a lot to drink at the banquet.

‘No more barley tea!’

I was racking my brain to come up with an excuse to refuse when the official said.

“I, Grand Censor Gwon Geun, will sincerely advise Your Highness, Crown Prince.”

“?”

“Your Highness neglects studying and only focuses on state affairs and practical matters, which is a great concern to many officials.

If the ruler is not well-versed in literature, which official will truly follow him?”

I was speechless at the sudden 꼰대질 (kkondaejil) [kkondaejil, a Korean slang term for the act of an older person being condescending or preachy to someone younger].

‘Why is he bringing up something that’s already over?’

If you’re unhappy, go read the Zhu Zi Quan Shu [a comprehensive collection of Neo-Confucian writings].

I don’t know if you’ll be able to find and read all 100+ volumes, kekeke.

Should I push forward with this logic? But since it’s a good day, I decided to show leniency.

I am generous.

“Grand Censor, you are very drunk.”

I gently admonished him.

“I am not drunk!”

‘People who say that are always drunk.’

“I am speaking about the mindset that a ruler, no, a scholar should have. How can a scholar who doesn’t know literature be called a scholar?”

Instead of just pouring barley tea and going back, I was getting heated up by his continued 꼰대질 (kkondaejil) [kkondaejil, a Korean slang term for the act of an older person being condescending or preachy to someone younger].

“I know as much literature as anyone else.”

I don’t particularly want to be a scholar, but how many times have I had my head cracked open for reading the classics?

“Has Your Highness mastered poetry or prose? Are you proficient in the calligraphy of various literary figures? If you don’t learn when you should learn, you will surely regret it.”

“I’m saying I’m as good as others.”

Is he still upset because of the Cheondo incident last time?

Or is he just like this when he drinks?

“I studied under Master Mogeun (Lee Saek) and Master Poeun (Jeong Mong-ju). The two were literary giants of the Korean peninsula, and their writing was very elegant and clear…”

He started listing his pedigree.

I waved my hand in annoyance.

“Oh, you had truly great teachers.”

They are great people.

Although one died in a foreign land and the other had his head smashed.

“That’s right.”

Gwon Geun said proudly.

“So, Grand Censor, do you write well?”

“Haha, it seems Your Highness wants to see my humble talent. I’m embarrassed to say, but many people praise me as one of the leading literary figures in the country.”
Gwon Geun said with a not-so-embarrassed expression, as if he had now moved on to boasting about himself.

I said quietly to his face.

“I think I can write better.”

“Yes?”

“I have neglected my studies, but I am confident that I can write better poetry than the Grand Censor.”

“Is that really true?”

The person who said that was not Gwon Geun.

It was Lee Bang-won, who was presiding over this banquet from the head table, who asked.

I nodded vigorously.

“If you allow me, I would like to compete in poetry with the Grand Censor.”

“Oh, your confidence is great! The Grand Censor is renowned for his great writing!”

“We’ll only know who’s better by comparing.”

Well, if we actually compete, I’ll lose 100 out of 100 times.