There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 443

444. The Return (3) – End of Main Story

Looking back, there were many times in my life when I faced mortal danger.

‘Looking back now, I think I was a little too confident about safety.’

I’ve always been fearless, but a king’s life isn’t just his own; a tragedy befalling him could shake the very foundations of the country.

And I wasn’t really aware of that.

‘Because I had a backup.’

After all, even if I couldn’t become king for some reason, things would just revert to the historical timeline.

And it’s not like it’s a tyrant like Yeonsangun, it’s Sejong! [Sejong the Great, the fourth king of Joseon, revered for his contributions to Korean culture and science.]

‘I can’t allow that.’

So, I had a tendency to just dive in… Looking back now that I’m a little older and more experienced, it’s truly dizzying.

But I was able to be so bold because I had something to believe in.

In other words, now that I’ve managed to stay alive and pass the throne on to my descendants, haven’t I taken all the praise and glory that the original Sejong the Great of history should have received?

The achievements of King Sejong the Great, whom all Koreans respect, will either not exist in this world or will be attributed to me.

Well, I’ve borrowed more than one or two achievements from others like that, but that’s only from people who haven’t even been born yet.

‘Considering that, I think I made him work hard.’

He was the biggest contributor to the establishment of the Joseon Empire, and he’s still helping Dan with his work, so he might be remembered as a famous prime minister, at least as famous as Soha or Zhuge Liang. [Zhuge Liang was a renowned strategist and statesman of the Three Kingdoms period in China.]

I’m the emperor’s brother, a prince, so even considering my status, it might be equal to or half a level higher than the original history.

Still, I don’t think it’s as impactful as being the one and only wise ruler in Korean history.

‘But…….’

As I’ve thought before, we’ve come too far to compare that historical figure to my brother.

The twists of history and the years we’ve spent together are too long to dwell on such comparisons.

“I won’t say much.”

So, I simply opened my mouth and said.

“Take care of my family.”

Do, who had been looking at me intently, smiled and took my hand.

“Of course, Brother.”

The hands of us two brothers were clasped together.

But that was only for a moment, as the other brothers soon placed their hands on top of ours.

“Big Brother, why are you leaving us out?”

“Even though Prince Jin has a heavy responsibility, I’m still sad! Do you think I’m only interested in immortality and don’t care about family matters?”

“How could I forget you?”

I smiled faintly as I looked at my brothers, who were joking around.

“Thank you so much.”

Really.

Even if I had tried to be a good brother, it would have been impossible if my brothers hadn’t supported me.

But our brothers didn’t cause any major incidents; instead, they struggled in various ways to help their brother push things forward.

It was a rare display of brotherly love in the royal family, where it wouldn’t have been strange for brothers to stab each other in the back.

This, too, is a blessing.

When my gaze passed through my brothers and back to my son, Dan cried out with tears in his eyes.

“Tell me, Father! Whatever words Father leaves behind, I will carve them in stone and place them on one side of the palace! I will not forget them and pass them down to future generations!”

“No… I don’t really have anything to say.”

I said, flustered.

As I said before, my son is inheriting the throne and ruling without any problems, so what am I supposed to say?

I was worried that he would suddenly rush into things like this, but I can’t fix that now.

Do is still here, so he’ll temper his nephew’s impulsiveness and help him.

Still, now that things have come to this, I have to say something to ease this awkward atmosphere.

I glanced at the face of the Crown Prince, who was sobbing next to Dan, and opened my mouth.

A phrase I had recited with my grandson when I returned to the capital with him came to mind.

“The only thing I need to tell you is this.”

Filial piety brings happiness, and harmony brings success.

It was a truly beautiful sentiment.

“Continue to live in harmony. Just like you’ve always done.”

“We will. We will live without fighting, as Father says.”

At my words, Dan, Hyeon, and the youngest, Hwan, nodded, tears streaming down their faces.

“I believe you.”

Ah, I’m not leaving at the right time, so the regret I’ve been trying to ignore is surfacing.

“I wish I could have seen Gyeong come.”

I sent her to Ryukyu because of an unspoken agreement between us, but I’m still worried about Gyeong, whom I sent to a foreign country.

However, even if she were to come herself, it would take a long time for her to arrive in Joseon if I sent word to Ryukyu now.

I didn’t think I could hold out until then.

If not, I may have to be satisfied with hearing the news of my father’s death from afar.

In fact, Gyeong is in charge of the country’s affairs, so she can’t easily leave her position.

It can’t be helped. She’s a twin, so let’s just say I saw my little daughter’s face.

I opened my mouth, which was stiff and increasingly immobile, and barely managed to say my last words.

“I love you all.”

I closed my eyes. Sleep came over me.

“Father!”

Surprised, Dan tried to grab my shoulder again, but this time, those who had been anxious stopped him all at once, and he had no choice but to fall to the ground.

Thanks to that, I fell into a slumber without being disturbed.

* * *

“…….”

Suddenly, I came to my senses and found myself standing blankly in the middle of the road.

I couldn’t tell if I had woken up from sleep, or if I was still in a dream.

Perhaps this space is a place where such distinctions are meaningless.

I wasn’t dumbfounded or embarrassed. I was just natural and calm, as if I was in the right place.

But I can’t stay here forever.

I looked around, but this place was a completely black space of nothingness.

Except for one place.

“Light?”

Light was emanating, however faintly, from one side of the road.

As if to say that this is the exit.

‘Heh…….’

It was a strangely familiar light.

With a longing as if I was facing this light for the first time in decades, I unconsciously tried to move my feet towards it.

There was no basis for it, but a kind of belief sprang up in my heart.

I was convinced that if I went there, I would be able to return to where I came from.

But the moment I took my foot off the ground, I heard a sound from behind that was even more dearly missed.

“That’s not the place.”

My steps froze at the familiar voice.

I turned my stiff head and looked back, and there was Yi Bang-won standing casually with his hands in his dragon robe. [Yi Bang-won was King Taejong, the third king of Joseon and father of Sejong.]

But the person standing there wasn’t just Yi Bang-won.

“Father, Mother, everyone!”

Yi Bang-won and Queen Wongyeong, as well as Grandfather Yi Bang-gwa and Grandmother Queen Jeongan, Hwang Hee, Maeng Sa-seong, Heo Jo, and old vassals such as Baek Dal-won and Iribuka, even my brother-in-law, the Yongle Emperor… [The Yongle Emperor was the third emperor of the Ming dynasty in China.]

Everyone I had a relationship with after I fell into Joseon.

Tears welled up in my eyes for a moment.

“How can an eldest son abandon his parents and go somewhere else?”

Queen Wongyeong narrowed her eyes as if scolding me.

“You rascal,,, it’s been a long time,,, don’t you have a word of greeting,,,!”

“How is Sohwa doing?”

“Your Majesty. Your servants have come to serve you.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the joy.

I took a step to go there, but I couldn’t get closer to them.

I took another step, and another, but it was the same.

“Why…….”

I was about to ask why, but I shook my head for a moment.

Instead of thinking about such questions, I gritted my teeth and tied my shoes.

If I can’t get closer by walking, I can just run.

It was a simple thought, but isn’t that how I’ve lived my life?

The old body of the Supreme Emperor had already turned into the body of the young Wonjae Lee Jae when I first fell into Joseon. [Wonjae Lee Jae refers to the protagonist’s original identity in Joseon.]

I almost fell several times as I ran hard with my short legs, but I managed to keep my balance and didn’t stop.

“Run a little more!”

“Cheer up, Your Majesty!”

The distance, which didn’t seem like I could ever catch up, was gradually decreasing.

The figures of the people who were cheering me on as they watched me run were gradually blurring, and they turned into light.

The remaining distance was only three steps away.

Impatient, I threw my body and my hand reached out to the pouring light.

And at that moment.

From afar, the sound of Sangwi Bok (上位復) [Sangwi Bok is a traditional Korean ritual or ceremony, possibly related to restoration or return to a previous state.] echoed in my ears, as if I were hearing it in my sleep.

* * *

The Supreme Emperor passed away in the old Donggung Palace. The King was wise, brave, and filial, and was loved by Taejo (太祖) [Taejo refers to King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty.] and Taejong (太宗) from an early age.

Alas! There has never been a king like our Emperor in history. He promulgated the national script to promote literature (文) and conquered the four directions to promote martial arts (武). He invented architecture, charts, electricity, and the laws of firearms, which were unknown in the past. He was close to his family, loved his brothers, and was kind to his subjects and people. There was no one, high or low, who did not love the Emperor.

The Emperor, on the one hand, had shown signs of divinity since ancient times, and there were often strange omens. When he arrived in Buyeo, he obtained an incense burner from the old Baekje and offered sacrifices to the heavens. When he arrived in Yeoju, he obtained a dragon horse and warded off disasters. Grand Master Prince Jin Yi Do looked up the old records, but could not find any similar precedents. This is the destiny that Heaven has greatly revealed, and how can it be said to be a coincidence that the Saint has received the Mandate of Heaven.

In the Central Plains, King Jo and Emperor Fei and others successively ruled cruelly and arbitrarily, and the world was plunged into great chaos. The Emperor was reluctant to fight because he was a member of the wife’s clan (妻族), but when the oppression became more severe, he had no choice but to raise the banner of righteousness.

From then on, he won wherever he went and pacified the people, subdued the deposed emperor, and quelled the turmoil. Although it was the Mandate of Heaven, it was possible because he possessed the merits of divine martial arts.

As a result, he restored the legitimacy of Jianwen (建文), and when the people’s hearts gathered, he was soon given the throne and became the Son of Heaven (天子) to rule the world. The country was at peace, and the people enjoyed living for more than 50 years.

To the north, the Jurchen, Dadan, Waja, and Noguk, and to the south, Ryukyu, Baekje, Jowa, and Annam submitted, and there was no place, whether in the sea (海內) or overseas (海外), that was not reached by the Son of Heaven’s rule.

Sending ships to the wide sea to communicate with the nations was the work of Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, but he did not reach it, and exploring the land of Bongrae in the east and opening up the territory was something that Qin Shi Huang did not do. [Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of China’s Qin dynasty, known for his ambitious projects.]

He was well-versed in etiquette and law and laid the foundation for the Six Laws. He was well-versed in the principles of all things and left behind more than ten books, which were examined and admired even by Western scholars (西士) and Western monks (西僧) from distant lands.

There were no bandits invading the borders, and the output increased day by day. The officials fulfilled their duties and the people enjoyed peace. The country was full of great blessings, and its merits and writings were so brilliant that they greatly surpassed the ancient sage kings.

It was a divine thing to have established such achievements that would last for all ages, but it was even more miraculous to have yielded the throne in consideration of the Jongmyo Shrine and his descendants. [Jongmyo Shrine is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the deceased kings and queens of the Joseon dynasty.] How can we compare him to Yao and Shun of Joseon?

Finally, he relinquished the throne and enjoyed his natural lifespan, returning to the reign of the current emperor. All the people of the world mourned with their hair disheveled, as if they had lost their parents.

The Emperor was in great pain and dismissed his attendants, personally carrying the coffin to the tomb in Guangzhou (廣州) for burial, and bestowed a posthumous title on the Supreme Emperor.

That is, Seongsin Geoneop Yeongmu Sunhyo Hongbang Jesaeng Munjitae Hwangje (聖神建業英武純孝弘邦濟生文治太皇帝), [This is the full posthumous title of the Supreme Emperor, a long string of honorifics.]

His temple name is Sejong (世宗).

< Postscript to the End of the Main Story >

Hello, this is Pitkong.

The main story of has been completed, but as you can guess! There are still side stories left.

I will upload my thoughts on the ending after all the stories are over, so I will keep it short for now.

I’ll see you tomorrow with the side stories!