There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 413

414. Joseon Halloween (2)

“Was that… Gyeong, just now?”

Wang Ho bowed his head at my question.

“This subject is not sure, Your Majesty.”

I’ve told him so many times not to meddle unnecessarily in politics, but somehow he’s not listening, though in a slightly different way than Dan.

“What should I do?”

“…….”

Wang Ho remained silent at my question.

He would follow if the Emperor ordered, but he meant that he would not express his opinion before that.

He must have judged that getting involved in the Imperial family’s affairs was dangerous.

If it were No-boon, he would have rushed ahead, saying, ‘How can you even think of pushing away your own child?’ and would have gotten a scolding.

Wang Ho’s eunuch-like ability to handle situations aside, I clicked my tongue.

‘If there is a member of the royal family who is unnecessarily interested in political issues, I am deeply concerned….’

‘Special measures are needed.’

It’s not for nothing that I tried to marry off her younger sister first.

It’s a headache if she tries to seduce her husband and use him as a political pawn.

Wasn’t it the political scene of Joseon where both the son-in-law and the princess were swept away if things went wrong?

Like Lee Je, the husband of Princess Gyeongsun, or Lee Jeo, the husband of Princess Gyeongsin.

Come to think of it, both were purged by my father.

‘Father… what would you have done?’

‘Get rid of them.’

Heek.

I put my hand on my chest and asked, and a strange answer came back.

‘To think that such a dangerous guy was living in my heart.’

Could it be that a strange personality grew up without me knowing while being raised by a family-killing expert?

Lee Bang-won was more benevolent than anyone else even when he died, giving his children and grandchildren his last words, but when it was just me and him, he was the one who told me to purge even my siblings if necessary.

‘I cut it off in the middle, though.’

My father also felt grateful that I had cut off his words and left.

I can’t leave the same will to Dan.

But I can’t grab Dan’s leg when I die and beg him to save your sister, can I?

But to make a complete waste product that can’t be used politically as a son-in-law… isn’t that a bit much?

I feel like I’ve become a matchmaker looking for a son-in-law.

‘Is being a father this hard?’

* * *

Lee Gyeong stepped back and kicked a stone.

The stone, sent flying by her nimble kick, hit the wall and fell.

She approached because it seemed like her father was having a secret conversation, but a quick-witted eunuch signaled her to leave quickly.

‘As if I’m some kind of plague.’

Lee Gyeong clicked her tongue.

Being so wary only makes her want to do it more out of spite.

‘Well, there’s nothing I can do anyway.’

It’s not like she can swing an iron club, smash the heads of the officials, and sit on the throne.

The current palace is not a place that can be broken through by ordinary soldiers or thugs.

The Royal Guards only listen to her father and his successor, her brother, no matter what their origins.

Well… not only herself, but also her other siblings.

If it were her cousins, they could be favored because they are not the direct children of the Emperor and did not inherit the blood of their mother, the former Princess Consort.

But they are different.

Even if her youngest brother, who was just born, grows up, what can he do but play around?

Her younger sister has ‘desirable’ hobbies such as embroidery or raising animals, but she couldn’t do such things because she was too restless.

She was closer to her grandfather than a normal lady anywhere you looked.

So, this was actually a matter of aptitude.

An aptitude that could never be satisfied.

“P-Princess! I’ve finally found you! …No, I’ve found you!”

When she was just kicking stones at the innocent wall, someone suddenly popped out.

Lee Gyeong knew him.

It was definitely the Crown Prince of Ryukyu [present-day Okinawa, Japan] who had visited the East Palace [residence of the Crown Prince] a few times.

“Found? Me?”

Lee Gyeong asked with her eyes wide open.

What business would this man have to find her?

Especially with his face flushed with alcohol.

Lee Gyeong raised her guard to the fullest.

Even if he was drunk, he wouldn’t do anything foolish in the palace, which is full of loyal subjects who would give their lives for the words of the Imperial family.

But if he rushes at her, she’ll subdue him in an instant with the skills she learned from her brother….

“P-Please accept this!”

On Ryuhwan bowed and suddenly raised a crumpled handkerchief.

Lee Gyeong picked it up with her index finger.

The pattern on the handkerchief looked familiar, but she, who had no interest in embroidery, casually dismissed it.

‘Did he find me to do such embarrassing things?’

Even if he was fascinated by her beauty, how could he do such a thing in the palace when the laws of separation between men and women are so strict?

Lee Gyeong was about to scold him loudly, but she paused for a moment and pondered as she looked at his face.

‘He’s got a decent build.’

Lee Gyeong hummed and stroked her chin.

Her eyes were just like her grandfather’s, assessing potential.

His nerdy personality wasn’t to her liking, but it was actually a plus in the current situation.

‘Ryukyu.’

It’s a country she knows well. She had seen him a few times when he visited the East Palace.

Her grandfather not only bestowed favors by restoring the throne of Namsan, but also unified Ryukyu, or so she heard.

Even if all the islands of that country are combined, they don’t even reach a single province of Zhili [present-day Hebei, China], but anyway, he was the Crown Prince of a country.

Moreover, she heard that they are now dominating the Satsuma Domain in Japan as a colony.

According to the uncles of the royal family who hold a significant stake in the Cheonghaejin [maritime trade hub], they have accumulated quite a bit of wealth through maritime trade and sugar production.

‘Not bad.’

The fact that it’s a small country wasn’t to her liking, but conversely, if it wasn’t a small country like Ryukyu, could she freely pursue her ambitions even with her background as a Joseon princess?

But Ryukyu is different.

The country that is most influenced by Joseon, the country that is most closely related to Joseon ideologically, economically, and militarily, and yet has a fairly established foundation.

‘The country is small… it depends on what I do.’

Just as Joseon once seized China and ascended, there is no guarantee that Ryukyu cannot do the same.

She’s not saying that she’ll wage war with Joseon to follow the mandate of heaven [divine right to rule].

The history of Joseon that she has seen since she was born is the history of pioneering.

Looking at the world map and globe that her father always showed them, Joseon and China were large, but they were only a corner of the world.

There is plenty of land in this world, and there are many places where the power of those tribes is not yet great.

As far as she knows, Ryukyu is a small country, but it has diligently learned the culture of Joseon and has greatly strengthened its navy.

In a world like today, there is nothing like trade through the sea route to increase the wealth of a country, and there is nothing like the navy as a means for a small country to pioneer territories thousands of miles across the sea.

‘The problem is Father’s permission….’

Lee Gyeong thought for a moment.

But doesn’t she already have a way to overcome that difficulty in her hand?

She smiled as she accepted the handkerchief.

“I’ll take this.”

“R-Really… Really?”

On Ryuhwan’s red face, which she took as a sign of permission, turned even redder, and he shouted something at her with an overwhelmed expression.

But at that moment,

– Puff puff puff!

The fireworks that decorated the finale of the Narye [ceremonial exorcism] painted the night sky.

His voice was drowned out by the sound of firecrackers exploding as if they would cover the sky of the entire capital.

* * *

“The Princess has also accepted my sincerity. As proof, I gave her a handkerchief, so if you ask, she will surely answer.”

On Ryuhwan said, lying flat on the ground.

“Yes, I heard.”

I nodded sadly.

The Narye ended with the year, and I was thinking of looking for marriage partners since I couldn’t let my daughters play around indefinitely.

In particular, the news of ‘King of Ryukyu’s visit to pay tribute, admiring the Emperor’s virtue’ was running out of steam.

In the meantime, the gazette and all kinds of newspapers that wrote it down stirred up the patriotism of the Joseon people, but now it was time to send the Ryukyu people back.

If the Crown Prince of Ryukyu returns to his home country following his father, the chance to challenge will end.

I didn’t set a clear time limit, but I thought that would be the case….

‘Actually, this guy succeeded.’

I had a throbbing headache.

No, is it better?

“A promise is a promise, so I must allow it.”

On Ryuhwan raised his head with a very excited expression at my words.

“…Then!”

“Princess, come in!”

At my shout, Gyeong, who was behind me, shyly came in.

“Did you call for me, Father?”

“Yes. Is it true that you accepted the Crown Prince of Ryukyu’s proposal?”

“Yes. It would be polite to report to my parents first and get permission, but I ended up accepting without saying anything because my heart was moved. Please forgive me.”

“I already have an agreement with the Crown Prince of Ryukyu, so there is nothing to forgive. Rather, it’s a relief. I can send your older sister to marry first while keeping the order.”

“Sister…?”

On Ryuhwan’s face, which had been beaming even after Gyeong came in, instantly froze.

He seemed to have recognized the face that was subtly different from his younger sister.

There was no way I couldn’t read On Ryuhwan’s expression.

‘Ah, this is an accident.’

I thought it was strange.

When I first talked to On Ryuhwan, I thought it was a promise made with the second daughter in mind, but the one who brought the ‘token of love’ was the first daughter.

The two daughters look alike even when I look at them, and it’s said that he confessed in the middle of the night during the Narye.

They can’t be distinguished well even in the light, so how could they be in the dark?

‘That’s not the point, it’s more amazing that Gyeong accepted.’

“Your Majesty… A-Actually…!”

On Ryuhwan, who was sweating profusely, opened his mouth, but On Sado, who was next to him, immediately cut him off.

“The Emperor’s grace is boundless! To think that we would have a relationship that was not made in the previous generation, I am endlessly grateful!”

“O-Oh….”

I narrowed my eyes as I watched On Ryuhwan, who was flustered and unable to continue speaking.

It’s impossible to take it back now.

If that happens, people will say that I’m playing with my daughter.

On Sado also knows that, so he grabbed his son’s head and pressed it down, shouting.

“What are you doing! Hurry up and thank the Emperor!”

From On Sado’s point of view, the national marriage with Joseon is important, not who he marries.

‘I wonder if he’s not afraid of interference in internal affairs.’

Ah, is it okay if he’s already being interfered with?

Anyway, in a situation where he claims to be the leader of Joseon’s tributary states, it would be beneficial for them to have a Joseon princess, and it wouldn’t be a loss for them.

I made eye contact with Gyeong, who was still pretending to be shy.

Gyeong nodded slightly.

That alone was enough for a tacit exchange of intentions between the two of us.

‘Is this a good thing for everyone….’

No matter how big Ryukyu gets, it won’t threaten Joseon, and Gyeong will be satisfied while ruling her country.

No matter how you look at it, it was an accident caused by a misunderstanding, but this was like a compromise our father and daughter had found.

‘Damn it, what a headache.’

What’s wrong with living next to her father and showing off her grandchildren?

I shook my head bitterly.

‘There’s no parent who can win against their child.’

Lee Seong-gye, who was defeated in the Rebellion of Jo Sa-ui [historical event], proves this.

Whether he did or not, On Ryuhwan, whose sky turned yellow [idiom for being utterly shocked], staggered as if he was about to lose his mind.