There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 438

439. The Empire Will Prosper (1)

I immediately ordered my entourage,

“Pack everything!”

They were taken aback by my command, but as soon as they saw the telegram fluttering in my hand, the attendants hurriedly began preparations.

The same went for my family.

The tour was abruptly halted and we were returning to the capital, but no one openly expressed dissatisfaction.

Not even Ju So-hwa, who had been eagerly anticipating another visit to her hometown.

Well, she’s a grandmother, so that’s understandable, but the other grandchildren are also keeping their mouths shut and focusing on telling their people to pack.

They instinctively know that if they say the wrong thing, it could leak out and they would be severely reprimanded.

In their hearts, they might be thinking, ‘The birth of the Heir Apparent is a big deal, but do we really need to go back right now?’

“What do you two plan to do?”

I asked, looking at my daughter and her husband.

My wife and I had to return to finally hold our newly born grandson, and the other grandchildren were part of the entourage that came with us on the tour, so they naturally had to go with us.

Scattering the imperial family in this foreign land and returning would be a considerable source of anxiety.

Of course, I’m not talking about the risk of a kidnapping.

But my daughter and her husband are a different story.

“We set out to escort Father, so shouldn’t we go with you?”

“Enough. It’s not like I’m a frail old man.”

They’ve never had the chance to escape the stifling capital their whole lives, so I brought them along this time, but there’s no need to take them just to see their nephew.

“The birth of the Heir Apparent is a great occasion, but it’s not so urgent that you two have to follow. Stay in Beiping [present-day Beijing] as long as you like.”

Hyeon-i nodded at my words.

“If you insist…….”

There was an imperial ship prepared by Cheonghaejin [a major naval base] for the imperial family, but we didn’t board it this time because we were on a land tour.

However, as soon as Dan-i contacted them via telegraph, the imperial ship was dispatched and soon arrived in Tianjin.

Our family, who had moved from Beiping to Tianjin, were soon able to board the imperial ship.

And immediately after returning to Gyoha, which was growing into a port following Byeokrando [a historical port], we headed south to the capital.

The capital and its surrounding areas were already buzzing with the news of the Heir Apparent’s birth.

I unfolded the Yeoheung Soonbo [a newspaper], which announced the news of the Heir Apparent’s birth.

– The Heir Apparent has finally been born.

The newly born Heir Apparent weighs over 4 kilograms and has a very dignified physique. Both the Empress and the Heir Apparent are reported to be in good health.

Meanwhile, there have been auspicious signs recently, such as a sacred light shining in the palace and a phoenix flying from Jeonju, all of which are said to be related to this joyous event…….

“…….”

Min In-saeng, who used to be the editor-in-chief, is dead, but Yeoheung Soonbo is faithfully playing its role as a yellow press… no, a national public opinion shaper, inheriting his tone.

Honestly, how much did you get from Dan-i?

‘Well, this much is cute enough to let it slide.’

Anyway, when an heir is born, they’re bound to bring in all sorts of omens and praise it as auspicious.

The purpose of such embarrassing praise is just one thing: to promote the legitimacy of being chosen by heaven.

Considering that purpose, it’s obvious that it’s more effective to make a fuss in the newspaper than to record it in the Veritable Records [historical annals].

As a result, other newspapers that are being published in the capital are also publishing articles of a similar level.

– Saint Jang Dal-gu’s prayer and the Lord’s answer! The blessed birth of the Prince! Glory, glory, hallelujah!

The priests dispatched from the Vatican were greatly impressed by Joseon’s advanced printing technology.

At first, they were going to publish the Bible or something, but they started publishing these religious magazines, having learned strange things from Joseon.

But the seniors they can refer to are obvious, so the tunes they’ve learned seem to be converging in a strange direction.

Naturally, the Buddhist side, which had a firm grip on the paper and printing industry, couldn’t hide their very uncomfortable feelings.

They had been watching carefully because of the pro-Confucian and anti-Buddhist atmosphere, but they also launched a Buddhist newspaper.

They are putting my second younger brother, Bo, forward and diligently engaging in spiritual warfare.

– Grand Prince Gye, “Everything is thanks to the Buddha’s grace.”

It is said that Grand Prince Gye, the elder of the imperial family, has been offering three thousand bows every day at temples in the capital out of concern for the Jongsa [royal ancestral shrine].

His Highness said that this joyous event was all thanks to the merits of the compassionate Buddha…….

All sorts of auspicious omens and spiritual prayers swirled around his grandson and he was born, so there could be nothing more sacred than this.

I shook my head.

As soon as we entered the capital, we went through the strict quarantine system that I had created when I received our child, and were guided to the newborn Heir Apparent.

“Ah-boo [Grandpa].”

“Yes, yes, I’m your grandfather.”

My daughter-in-law’s face was half its previous size, so it seemed like she had suffered twice as much as before.

I lifted up the truly gigantic baby, who was said to be a large baby.

At that moment.

“Giggle!”

– Whoosh!

A surprise attack was launched on me as I was smiling at my grandson.

‘Slow.’

The guy who was smiling brightly suddenly peed on me, but I, who hadn’t let my guard down, immediately tilted my head and dodged.

‘I thought something like this might happen.’

I’ll never be fooled twice.

Having already been vaccinated once when I had my eldest son, how could I be attacked like this?

“I thought Father would be caught off guard too…….”

Dan-i said with a sullen expression.

It seems like my son had been hit once too.

It can truly be said to be like father, like son.

‘Who did he take after to be so mean?’

He’s already trying to trick his grandfather and father, even though he’s a newborn who can’t even crawl.

My back is already feeling uneasy.

But it’s good that he looks healthy.

‘Well, most of our family members are like that.’

Everyone is too full of energy.

That’s not a problem in itself, but the real problem is where to release this energy.

Now that the direct descendant has been born, unless this guy dies young, the succession dispute is as good as completely sealed.

Dan-i has roughly started pruning, but it’s better to have as few elements of conflict as possible.

However, not long after I returned to the capital, surprisingly voluntary traffic control began to take place.

* * *

Despite the joy overflowing throughout the imperial family due to the joyous event, there were those who couldn’t quite erase their uneasy expressions.

In particular, the princes who had been subjected to a major purge were as good as confirmed to be in a state of being left out in the cold because of this incident.

‘Should I go and beg for my life?’

Prince Imjon, Yi Gyu, paced back and forth anxiously with his hands behind his back.

‘Beg, but to whom?’

Until now, it was nothing to subtly reveal ambition for the throne.

Rather, there was even a psychology of expecting that it would be seen as some kind of qualification for the succession in the eyes of those who held the decision-making power.

But now that the Heir Apparent has been born, isn’t it obvious that his past actions will come back as arrows?

‘Even if slanderous words come out when my grandfather or father are alive, what if those who remember the old days tell the Heir Apparent about it in the future?’

Or what if the Empress, who has not had a son for a long time and has been watching the actions of the illegitimate children, feels insulted by this?

My father seems to be trying to settle the matter by saying that ‘reckless people took him and played with him before being pushed out,’ but this decision can be overturned politically at any time in the future.

‘It will be too late then.’

His maternal uncle is Essen, the ruler of the Oirat Ulus [a Mongol confederation].

He’s a formidable backing, but I don’t know how much help an uncle I’ve never seen will be.

Besides, this country, Joseon, is the greatest power, so it won’t spare the death of someone who should be feared and urgently eliminated just because it fears Pyeongseo King, who is ten thousand miles away.

Wouldn’t it be better to make a decision now, while I can still seek the help of my grandfather or father?

Yi Chang, the son of Consort Suk, Daenae, who was in a similar situation, was thinking the same thing.

“As you know, my maternal family is a descendant of King Wideok of Baekje [an ancient Korean kingdom].”

The answer that Yi Gyu was about to say, ‘Isn’t that a genealogy that our grandfathers made up for us?’ didn’t come out of his mouth.

That’s because he didn’t know about the sinister manipulations that took place in the previous generation.

In fact, it wasn’t a big deal even if he knew.

The important thing was that even the Baekje royal family believed it now.

“If we trace the lineage of that King Wideok back to the old King Onjo, the story of Biryu and Onjo is similar to our situation today, isn’t it?”

“Are you saying that we should leave with our group?”

Biryu and Onjo left the country and founded Baekje when Yuri, the son of the queen, fled from Buyeo [another ancient kingdom].

“We have to now. If we wait until later, how will the Heir Apparent allow us to each form our own family?”

They knew very well how ordinary illegitimate children were treated by looking at the history of the royal family.

The illegitimate children of Taejo were slaughtered by Taejong, and the illegitimate children of Jeongjong were ignored by Taejong.

It seems like Taejong did all of it, but they had to consider these precedents.

“Exploration and development are projects that the Supreme Emperor established as national policies when he was on the throne. If we ask to leave our father’s shadow and become Joseon’s outer vassals to protect the fence, how can he refuse?”

Of course, they didn’t think their father would object.

It’s inevitable that his love will be focused on the direct heir, but he’s still the father who has shown them affection so far, isn’t he?

Also, Joseon’s biggest concern right now is managing the nearby Central Plains, not reaching out to all parts of the world that it can’t even properly govern.

The exception would be the New World, but that means that most of Joseon’s expansion capacity is being consumed in developing the New World.

In this situation, if his sons go out to the countryside to protect the border without fighting with their younger brother and heir, how can their father refuse?

Even if they build their own country, they will have to rely on the authority of the home country for at least 1-2 generations, and even after that, it is clear that it will not be easy to develop national power to compete with Joseon.

“Come to think of it, the Supreme Emperor said something similar.”

Yi Gyu confessed readily.

I think I know what it means to find a way outside of Joseon.

“Since my maternal uncle is subduing the Western Regions and wielding his power, I should join him and go there.”

“That’s a good idea. This younger brother is also thinking of going to a place where it’s easy to borrow the power of his maternal family if necessary. My aunt is in Ryukyu [Okinawa], so I might be able to get help.”

The princes, who had not yet taken any serious action or formed any power, could just live comfortably under the shadow of the imperial family.

But the princes who had already become impossible to do so, or who were simply not confident in living their whole lives as relatives, had no other choice.

They should be glad that this option exists.

As they expected, the father showed a proud expression at his sons’ determination not to block the Heir Apparent’s path.

Yi Dan hugged his children tightly.

“This father never knew you had such thoughts!”

Yi Dan hugged his sons because he loved them for wanting to pioneer their own path rather than being ambitious and harboring reckless thoughts, but it was different from the children’s point of view.

“Ugh……!”

They groaned at the feeling that their backs were breaking.

It was truly violent love, no matter when they felt it.