There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 434

435. Tae Sang Hwang, Yi Je (1)

Abdication isn’t something that simply concludes with the registration of the royal seal.

Moreover, in this instance, not only am I retiring, but the three Chief State Councilors are also stepping down.

I requested them to stay in their positions at least until the political situation stabilized.

Of course, the old men refused outright.

– “Don’t want to.”

– “Are you trying to break your promise again?”

Old men, have you lived your lives being deceived?

Seeing them throw their canes and insist they kept their promises, I feared they’d actually need to be carried out as corpses, so I couldn’t press them further.

Otherwise, I would have had Dan reinstate them.

‘Hmm. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a formal reinstatement.’

There have been cases where retirees like Seong Seok-rin or Kwon Geun, residing in the Girosu (耆老所, Hall for Retired Statesmen), contributed by taking on roles in the National Language Association.

Giving them some busywork in their twilight years to keep them from getting bored might be a good idea.

‘Let’s think about this later.’

For now, I should fully enjoy my vacation.

If Dan hadn’t been practically managing state affairs, it would have taken at least a month to hand over everything after my abdication.

No, I would have had to finish the groundwork before even relinquishing the throne.

But now, there’s Dan, and my brother has returned from Nanjing.

Do, who immediately assumed the position of Chief State Councilor, decided to assist the Crown Prince… no, the Emperor, in leading the nation.

As expected, the atmosphere livens up when the head of the court becomes 30 years younger.

The court was like a festival house, with all the stagnant water drained out and overall promotions taking place. If I had known it would be like this, I should have replaced them sooner.

Anyway, for that reason, I immediately had leisure time as soon as I finished my splendid retirement ceremony.

I was thinking of calling Jang Yeong-sil and Yi Cheon to focus on research and development…….

‘Suddenly, I don’t feel like working.’

I thought while looking at the water clock.

Could it be that I’m thinking of slacking off?

Even after handing over the throne to my son, claiming I would dedicate myself to invention?

‘No, that’s not it.’

There’s an order to everything.

I’ve created a sleek invention like a water computer, albeit a rudimentary one, so improvements can be made slowly.

In fact, even if I leave that to the Jiphyeonjeon (集賢殿, Hall of Worthies) and the engineers, some progress will be made.

So, what should I do now?

‘A royal tour, of course.’

This is something only a former emperor can do.

The emperor bears the burden of state affairs and cannot leave the capital carelessly.

I’ve been wandering around diligently, but that was because I had the backup of the Sangwang (上王, Retired King) or the heir.

Even then, I only traveled to designated points for wars or Nadams (festivals); I’ve never done a ‘national tour.’

But what about the Taesanghwang (太上皇, Grand Retired Emperor)?

‘Well, having abdicated so grandly, it’s a bit awkward for me to remain in the capital.’

It would feel like running into a friend you waved goodbye to on the subway.

It wouldn’t be bad to go on a brief excursion and return when the memory of the retirement ceremony has faded.

Besides, if I keep staying in the capital, Dan will inevitably be conscious of me while managing state affairs.

Even if I tell him not to report to me, it would be pointless if he still asks for my opinion when discussing national affairs, as he did before.

Let’s create enough physical distance to make it impossible for him to report to me in detail.

Once everyone gets used to Dan’s rule, I can come back.

Thinking this way, I became convinced that it would be good to put down the heavy burden of state affairs and go on a tour before fully engaging in research.

When I went to the royal bedchamber to discuss this with my wife, Juso-hwa was already packing her bags.

“What are you doing now?”

“Preparing to go on a trip.”

What is this? Has my wife hacked into my brain?

While I was deep in thought, Juso-hwa put her arms around my neck and said.

“I’ve been waiting for a day like this since the day we got married. Now that we’ve come down from the tiger’s back, shouldn’t we go on a scenic tour together?”

“Your will is my will.”

Like two pendulums hanging on the same clock, initially moving independently but eventually synchronizing to the same beat, thoughts seem to become similar after living together for decades.

That’s probably why they say couples are of one mind.

* * *

In Joseon, a 駙馬(Buma, the king’s son-in-law) is like an ornamental plant.

The Buma of a 적출(Jeokchul, born of the Queen) princess is basically of the rank of 正(Jeong, Senior)·從(Jong, Junior) 1品(Poom, Rank), and as a relative of the imperial family, their nobility is beyond words.

However, as ornamental plants often do, they have little substance compared to their splendid power.

It is difficult to succeed politically, and it is not easy to indulge in women and gambling because of the eyes of the wife and her family.

You can see this from the fact that Nam Hwi, the grandson of Nam Jae, the dark duelist, is subtly shunned by the imperial family.

Even though Nam Hwi married Princess Jeongseon, he made his wife suffer because he had a strong 바람기(Baramgi, tendency to have affairs), so of course Emperor Yi Je did not like this brother-in-law very much.

What if it’s a daughter you wouldn’t want to put in your eyes?

which can be said to be the dream of all Sadaebu [士大夫, scholar-officials] is impossible, and if you don’t want to be hit by the 금상(Geumsang, current king)’s iron hammer, you have to give up 여색(Yeosaek, lust for women), which is the most common hobby.

However, if you give up those two things, there is surprisingly no life as comfortable as this.

Even if there is little way to exert political influence, you will not be 밀리다(Millida, be inferior) in 위세(Wisae, power) wherever you go, and you don’t have to worry about 돈(Don, money) that is 쪼들리다(Jjodeollida, be short of).

It is obvious that the descendants with the blood of the imperial family will prosper for generations thanks to the 은택(Euntaek, grace), so if you are a Buma without great ambition, there is no other way to live without worrying about life as much as this.

Immediately after marrying off his eldest daughter, Yi Je was engrossed in finding a Buma who was 적성(Jeokseong, suitable) for his remaining youngest daughter.

The person chosen in that way was Song Hyeon-su, the son of 송복원(Song Bok-won), 사재부정(Sajae Bujeong, Vice Minister of the Court Treasury).

In the original history, he was the 국구(Gukgu, father-in-law of the king) of 단종(Danjong, King Danjong), and was involved in 정난(Jeongnan, political turmoil) by 단종(Danjong, King Danjong) who married his daughter half voluntarily and half involuntarily.

To talk about the 성정(Seongjeong, nature) of this Yi family’s second son-in-law…….

‘Very smooth.’

In a good or bad way, he was a very 무색무취(Musaekmuchwi, colorless and odorless) person.

However, Yi Je, who had married off his eldest daughter in many ways, liked this one without any personality.

‘Well, a Buma just needs to not cause accidents and have 의리(Uiri, loyalty).’

Buma Wang Yi Je, who had once 거하게(Geohage, grandly) destroyed the 사직(Sajik, state) of the 명(Myeong, Ming) Dynasty, thought so.

Unlike Yi Gyeong, who was full of political ambition and worried about manipulating Buma, he seemed to get along well with the 성격(Seonggyeok, personality) of his 순(Yusun, docile) youngest daughter, Yi Hyeon.

Originally, her younger sister married 영응대군(Yeong-eung Daegun, Grand Prince Yeong-eung) in the original history, so there was not much opposition because it was not a 집안(Jiban, family) that was 문벌(Munbeol, prestigious lineage) falling.

Rather, this time, there was a great reaction of 감격(Gamgyeok, being impressed) that the 황상(Hwangsan, Emperor) had married a 조선인(Joseonin, Joseon person) as his son-in-law.

The imperial family’s 혼인(Honin, marriage) TO [table of organization] is limited.

The fact that one of them flew away due to the 국혼(Gukhon, national marriage) with 유구(Yugu, Ryukyu) naturally meant that the opportunities for several families within 조선(Joseon, Joseon) to directly or indirectly connect with the imperial family also flew away.

Anyway, Song Hyeon-su was continuing a very smooth married life and was satisfying the only expectation that Yi Je had of his son-in-law.

Whatever his wife does, he agrees.

Fortunately, his wife was a different 과(Gwa, type) from her 장인(Jangin, father-in-law), 처남(Cheonam, brother-in-law), and 처형(Cheohyeong, sister-in-law), and she was talented in raising livestock and harvesting, so she made a lot of money, so there was not much to say about 살림(Sallim, household finances).

However, even he couldn’t help but be speechless when he saw his wife packing her bags.

“Where are you going?”

The luggage was so big that it looked like she was going on a long trip.

Suddenly, I thought she was going to her 친정(Chinjeong, parents’ house), but it wasn’t like <선녀와 나무꾼(Seonnyeo-wa Namukkun, Fairy and the Woodcutter)> 연재(Yeonjae, serialization) in 됴흔생각(Dyohunsaenggak, a magazine) and a 마누라(Manura, wife) who had three children would go to her 친정(Chinjeong, parents’ house) without saying a word.

Song Hyeon-su quickly turned his head.

‘Was there anything that made you feel bad?’

In a situation where one side’s power is overwhelming, the word 싸움(Ssaum, fight) does not hold.

This is why 부부싸움(Bubu-ssaum, marital fight) does not occur in the 유구(Yugu, Ryukyu) royal family, and in fact, it is good to see that there is not much 건덕지(Geondeokji, reason) to fight for this couple.

That’s why he didn’t know the reason for his 마누라(Manura, wife)’s 가출(Gachul, running away), but Yi Hyeon calmly replied.

“아바마마(Abamama, Father) said he is going on a 순행(Sunhaeng, royal tour), so shouldn’t I, as his daughter, assist him?”

“No, no matter how much, how can a 부녀자(Bunyeoja, woman)…… aren’t there others?”

“The 황상(Hwangsan, Emperor) is carrying the heavy 국무(Gukmu, state affairs) in 도성(Doseong, capital), and my sister is fulfilling her 책무(Chaekmu, duty) as 중전(Jungjeon, queen) in 유구국(Yuguguk, Ryukyu). The young 심왕(Simwang, Prince Sim) should have been cared for by his parents, but he is not old enough to assist, so I have no choice but to step up.”

I already knew about the 막무가내(Mangmugaenae, unreasonable) 성정(Seongjeong, nature) and 실행력(Silhaengnyeok, execution power) of my wife’s family, but I never knew that my always 순(Yusun, docile) wife would be so 당돌(Dangdol, bold).

“……Then I will follow you!”

Song Hyeon-su shouted.

Even though he is usually an 특색(Teuksaek, characteristic) 평범(Pyeongbeom, ordinary) son-in-law, he was originally a 인물(Inmul, person) who 엄연히(Eomyeonhi, clearly) 던지다(Deonjida, threw) himself into the 단종복위운동(Danjongbokwiundong, Danjong Restoration Movement) (suspected and executed) even though he was an old friend of 세조(Sejo, King Sejo) in the original history.

How can I send only 아녀자(Anyeoja, woman) alone?

He 결연히(Gyeolyeonhi, firmly) insisted.

Then Yi Hyeon opened her eyes wide and asked.

“What about the children?”

Song Hyeon-su barely 참았다(Chamattda, endured) his words, trying to ask back 무심코(Musimko, unintentionally) if she was going to leave the children to him.

“The children have grown up quite a bit, so if we take 태상황(Taesanghwang, Grand Emperor) and go on a 순행(Sunhaeng, royal tour) together, it will be an opportunity to broaden our 견문(Gyeonmun, knowledge)!”

My father-in-law would like it if he took his 외손주(Oesonju, grandchildren), but he wouldn’t hate it.

He firmly believed so.

* * *

‘The 행차(Haengcha, procession) seems to have gotten too big.’

The initial plan was for just my wife and I and our attendants to leave lightly, but one by one, family members joined, and it became a full-fledged family trip.

However, the imperial family, including Dan, is excluded. How can the Emperor and Empress leave 도성(Doseong, capital)?

It’s just that my youngest daughter and her husband and their children, and the 손자(Sonja, grandchildren) who have grown quite a bit, have joined.

Other than that, maybe my youngest son.

At that time, No-bun, who received Dan’s order, approached with 종종걸음(Jongjonggeoreum, hurried steps).

“Have you heard the news? I’m going to leave 황성(Hwangseong, imperial castle) and go on a 순행(Sunhaeng, royal tour) for a while.”

“Where are you going?”

“Well, it’ll be 동북면(Dongbukmyeon, Northeast Province) first.”

The family nodded as if they knew it would be.

Because it is my 지지기반(Jijigiban, support base) that 이성계(Iseonggye, King Taejo) passed down and the 뿌리(Ppuri, root) of the imperial family.

“I think I should serve you…….”

“Hey, how can you, who should be 보좌(Boja, assist) the 황상(Hwangsan, Emperor), 비우다(Biuda, empty) the 궁궐(Gunggwol, palace).”

No-bun also wanted to move to 청와대(Cheongwadae, Blue House), which became 태상황궁(Taesanghwanggung, Grand Emperor Palace), but he had no choice because Dan did not let him go.

왕호(Wangho) is the 내관(Naegwan, eunuch) who will serve me instead.

It was a perfect timing because the information department would be 불안(Buan, uneasy) for the upper person if one person held it for a long time.

He also seemed to want to 물러나다(Mulleonada, step down) as a 야인(Yain, civilian).

Because we moved to avoid the 번잡(Beonjap, crowded) time, there were hardly any 백성(Baekseong, people) who came out to 배웅(Baeung, see off).

“Open the 문(Mun, door)!”

With my command, the 도성(Doseong, capital) 성문(Seongmun, castle gate) opened and the 어가(Eoga, royal carriage) headed north.

Since we’re going to 동북면(Dongbukmyeon, Northeast Province) anyway, it would be nice to visit 명소(Myeongso, famous places) in between.

“Let’s go around 건원릉(Geonwonneung, King Taejo’s tomb) once, and then go to 북한산(Bukhansan, Bukhan Mountain).”

건원릉(Geonwonneung, King Taejo’s tomb) is a place I visit often, but 북한산(Bukhansan, Bukhan Mountain) has ‘that’.

The faces of our four people are based on 태조(Taejo, King Taejo)’s 어진(Eojin, portrait) and family photos.

The sight of the clouds hanging over the sculptures of the four kings carved into 백운대(Baegundae, the highest peak of Bukhansan) from 태조(Taejo, King Taejo)-정종(Jeongjong, King Jeongjong)-태종(Taejong, King Taejong)-me is a work of art.

‘Hoo.’

This is a tourist attraction.