There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 332

333. Autograph Session (2)

Nakkanhoe [A gathering where people receive a ‘Nakkan,’ a stamp or seal, on their books as a sign of authentication or appreciation].

It was already fascinating that they would stamp a Nakkan on a book if you brought it, but the fact that the person stamping it was none other than the Retired King made it even more special.

Thanks to the popularity of my great-uncle’s memoirs, which had even spread to Ming China, people flocked to it like clouds.

‘I didn’t expect it to be this popular.’

The fan meeting and autograph session were held at a tea house in the capital for security reasons.

The entire three-story tea house, which wasn’t small, was rented out, but people had already crowded in, leaving no room to set foot.

As a result, they had quite a hard time organizing the waiting line.

‘I’m glad I properly promoted the culture of queuing.’

It seems that the citizens’ awareness has matured a lot while carrying out various projects.

If not, they must have been afraid of the Gapsa [Elite soldiers or guards], who were glaring at them on each floor.

Since they were the ones who had waited in a long line to get a chance, they were eager to share even one more word with Yi Bang-gwa.

“Your Majesty, the part where you fought against the five sworn brothers of Hobaldo in succession really touched the hearts of men!”

“Is that so… I think I just wrote it normally…”

Yi Bang-gwa stroked his beard, unable to hide his happy expression, especially since they recognized the part he had put so much effort into.

Most of the people gathered here were educated enough to buy and read books.

It was fortunate that the book prices were getting cheaper and the spread of Hangul [Korean alphabet] was going smoothly, so it wasn’t just nobles who gathered, but strange people didn’t gather.

If that had happened, the court would have been turned upside down.

‘Well, it’s a virtue for the king to go out to the marketplace and listen to the people’s stories, so this is nothing.’

That’s why the officers of the Office of Censors and Remonstrance only opposed it due to the Retired King’s health reasons, and didn’t object to the Nakkanhoe itself.

“What is your name…”

“Yes, I am Chun-sam, who lives in Hwanggwa-bang, Hanyang [Old name for Seoul].”

“Chun-sam of Hwanggwa-bang, Hanyang… May all things go well and may your family be blessed…”

Yi Bang-gwa wrote a congratulatory phrase and then picked up the seal next to him and stamped it on the book that Chun-sam held out.

‘To think he would use the royal seal for this.’

Not all royal seals are the same.

When the King of Joseon first ascends the throne, China bestows an Insin (印信) [Royal Seal bestowed by the Chinese Emperor], but this is rarely used except when exchanging diplomatic documents with Ming.

When issuing orders through royal decrees, the king’s Haengbo (行寶) [Seal used for royal decrees] is stamped, and the Gwageo Jibo (科擧之寶) [Seal for civil service examination results] is stamped on the Hongpae [Certificate of passing the civil service exam] and Baekpae given to those who passed the civil service examination, and the Yuseo Jibo (諭書之寶) [Seal for mobilizing military power] is stamped on the Yuseo issued when mobilizing military power or rewarding officials.

In addition, the Seonsa Jigi (宣賜之記) seal [Seal for books printed by royal order] is stamped on books printed by royal order.

Yi Bang-gwa’s memoirs were also printed by royal order, so the seal he took out was also the Seonsa Jigi.

Yi Bang-gwa also had a seal made for his own use when he became king – although he rarely used it as he pleased – but there was no way he would 폐기 [discard] it after he stepped down.

Chun-sam, who received the Nakkan with the royal seal that he had taken out after a long time, shed tears of emotion.

“Your, Your Majesty, your grace is boundless!”

“What… what’s the big deal…”

There is no need to worry about anyone forging the royal seal based on the stamped Nakkan.

Forgery requires a need, and what use would it be to forge the Seonsa Jigi of the Retired King, who has no real power?

‘This is also frustrating to watch.’

I, who was sitting next to him watching this, was now contemplating whether to go back.

‘I didn’t expect so many people to come.’

I was just trying to enjoy a leisurely outing, but I didn’t expect so many people to come out.

I think my great-uncle’s self-esteem has been satisfied to some extent, so I can just tell the remaining Gapsa to take good care of him and bring him back.

So, as I was looking for a good time to leave.

Chun-sam, who was about to leave after getting his autograph, hesitated and suddenly fell prostrate in front of me.

“Y, Your Majesty!”

The Gapsa were startled by the sudden action and rushed in, but I gestured to stop them and asked.

“What’s wrong?”

‘It looks like he has something to say.’

I was told that whenever I meet the people, I should listen to their grievances and handle them well.

Source: Our dead old man.

I looked over at him with an expression that said, ‘Tell me what you have to say.’

Chun-sam shouted while prostrating himself.

“If I could receive one of Your Majesty’s calligraphy and keep it as a treasure, it would be the glory of three lifetimes!”

You want my autograph?

‘If I give out too many autographs, the value will drop.’

I pondered seriously.

No matter how good my handwriting is, calligraphy also follows the law of supply and demand.

It is natural that the more I write and the more common it becomes, the lower the value will appear.

Do I really need to add my autograph to Yi Bang-gwa’s memoirs, which are not even my work?

Above all, isn’t this my great-uncle’s autograph session?

“Just, just do it… what’s wrong with that…”

However, Yi Bang-gwa, who was diligently working on the Nakkan despite his old age, said so, so I couldn’t help it.

‘Well, it’s not like my fingers will wear out if I write a little.’

When have I ever cared about that and written calligraphy?

I unintentionally ended up participating in my great-uncle’s fan service.

“Bring me a brush!”

I shouted like that.

I took the brush that the Gapsa had brought in a hurry and wrote down the phrase in one stroke.

Chun-sam was crying while prostrating himself, as if he didn’t know I would really do it.

“Your Majesty, I will keep it as a family treasure for generations to come! It will be an unforgettable memory!”

“Um, okay.”

I nodded.

That’s why I wrote it for you. Maybe his descendants will regard it as an honor to have received a piece of calligraphy from me.

If I think that I bought the loyalty of a family with a piece of calligraphy that took less than 10 seconds, it’s quite a bargain.

– Murmur, murmur

But from then on, the atmosphere began to flow in a subtly strange direction.

“Um… Your Majesty, I am afraid to ask, but if you could write just one letter for me…”

“I would like to ask too!”

The people who had been thinking, ‘Still, I shouldn’t ask His Majesty…’ began to ask for autographs one after another once an example was set.

‘What is my great-uncle doing?’

I glanced to the side and saw that Yi Bang-gwa had already passed on the task of writing congratulatory phrases to me and was just diligently stamping the seal.

Naturally, stamping a seal is much easier than writing calligraphy.

It’s also faster.

‘Damn it, if it weren’t for what Yi Seong-gye [The founder and first king of the Joseon dynasty] said.’

I want to throw away my grandfather’s teachings and everything else.

* * *

The Nakkanhoe ended successfully.

The people each cherished the book stamped with the Retired King’s seal in their hearts and left.

My wrist was overworked, but it will be a lasting memory for the people, so let’s just move on.

The repercussions of the Nakkanhoe seem to have been quite large.

– From ancient times, receiving a royal autograph has been the greatest honor for a subject.

His Majesty showed the love of the father of the country by generously giving autographs to those who gathered and wishing them good fortune, as well as showing filial piety to the Retired King…

The Yeoheung Soonbo [Official Gazette] featured this Nakkanhoe as a major story.

There was no concept of an autograph session in the existing Joseon, and there were two kings in attendance, so it was only natural in a way.

In fact, even so, the newspaper is only a few pages long now, so it’s not really an event that deserves to take up an entire page, but it seems that there was someone’s secret instruction.

“I’m glad my maternal uncle granted your request.”

“…Can you refuse if I ask?”

“Wouldn’t it be because his cute nephew made a special request? I didn’t force him at all.”

If I don’t leave behind a good story after doing this much, how can I live with myself?

Fortunately, this incident will help to dispel the ridiculous image of me as a ‘bloodthirsty purge demon’ to some extent.

“That’s a good thing, but won’t people jump out and ask you for calligraphy every time you go somewhere in the future?”

“I think that might be the case…”

I trailed off.

If I don’t want to do it, I don’t have to.

The Royal Guards are not just for show.

“Anyway, the Nakkanhoe was so successful that it seems to be trending in the capital.”

The fact that it filled a tea house and stretched out to the streets was quite impressive to others.

In fact, Yi Bang-gwa’s memoirs are selling even better after the Nakkanhoe, so the marketing effect seems to have been certain.

‘Is this how autograph sessions will unexpectedly take root?’

Cultural creation and the development of marketing strategies.

It’s a good change in either way.

‘And above all, my great-uncle’s mood has improved.’

The news that all the famous people in the capital were following the Retired King and holding Nakkanhoes seemed to have greatly helped to satisfy my great-uncle’s self-esteem.

I heard that he was smiling all the time even in his sickbed.

“Are you planning to go over to Indeok Palace today?”

“Yes, I heard that the Retired King has woken up. Let’s go together.”

The retired Yi Bang-won every day.

I, who have many urgent administrative duties to handle, visited Indeok Palace once every three days.

Since the Retired King had been ill ever since he came back from the Nakkanhoe, I had only been able to see his face a few times.

“To think that my brother, who was so healthy, would lose his energy like this.”

Yi Bang-won sighed.

* * *

Yi Bang-gwa was enjoying the leaves fluttering from the tree with the door of the Sangwangjeon [Residence of the Retired King] wide open.

“I have already achieved everything I need to achieve…”

Yi Bang-gwa said calmly, as if he had no regrets in his life.

“Living out a life and withering away, a leaf hanging precariously… isn’t it like the fate of a person…”

Yi Bang-gwa lowered his voice heavily and continued.

“When that leaf falls… my life will also end…”

At that moment, a gust of wind blew and the leaf fell.

“……”

Yi Bang-gwa, who had been putting on a lot of weight, turned his head and changed the subject.

“I wanted to see my face carved on Baegun-dae [A prominent peak in Bukhansan National Park] before I left…”

“Of course you have to see it while you’re alive, brother. Don’t keep talking like you’re leaving.”

“Come to think of it… I have to see the Gyeokgu [A traditional Korean sport similar to polo] championship too…”

“……”

“I have to send all my grandchildren off to marriage… I want to travel around the country and hold Nakkanhoes…”

‘Didn’t you say you had achieved everything you needed to achieve?’

He seems to have a lot of regrets for someone like that.

“But a person can’t live forever just because they have regrets.”

Yi Bang-gwa said firmly.

My heart sank when I saw him speaking normally after a long time.

I hesitated for a moment and then said to Yi Bang-gwa.

“If there’s anything you want, tell me before it’s too late.”

I want to grant as much as I can.

Yi Bang-gwa, who had been hesitating, asked with an expression of expectation.

“Will you give me a posthumous title?”

“……”

Yi Bang-won closed his mouth.

As a king of tactics, he could have closed his eyes and lied, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so in front of the Retired King who was about to leave.

On the other hand, he could have reassured his brother, who was about to die, even with a lie.

‘Well, my great-uncle probably doesn’t trust my father’s words either.’

Maybe this is all karma.

Instead, Yi Bang-gwa’s gaze turned to me.

My father’s gaze was also the same.

Telepathy.

How long have I been with Yi Bang-won? How can I not be able to communicate this much?

‘It’s better not to say anything than to gloss over it with a lie.’

Yi Bang-won’s eyes poked at me, but I nodded and said.

“Of course I will raise it.”

My father, who was engrossed in organizing the lineage from Yi Seong-gye to himself, couldn’t give a definite answer easily, but I am different.

Above all, I know that my great-uncle was given a posthumous title in the original history, so there is no reason to hesitate in front of the Retired King who is leaving.

“Okay… that’s enough…”

The Retired King smiled and closed his eyes contentedly.

Yi Bang-won and I were shocked and shouted.

“Brother!”

“Great-uncle!”

I thought the Retired King had suddenly passed away, but the physician who rushed over tilted his head and said.

“His pulse is still beating.”

“Huh?”

“It seems that he has fallen into a deep sleep.”

The physician bowed his head and said, and my strength drained away.

‘I almost had to hold a funeral.’

However, the Retired King could not wake up from his sleep even after a day, two days, or three days.