Chapter 14
Episode 14. King Sejong and Lee Hyang at Cheonsu Hall (2)
King Sejong gazed for a long time at his son, who presented a new, unfamiliar aspect.
At twenty-two, two months after being appointed Crown Prince, displacing Yangnyeong, he had ascended the throne. At that time, his surroundings were filled with his father, King Taejong’s, officials.
Even after Father King passed away, the old officials frequently used Yangnyeong’s eccentricities as an excuse to pressure him to kill him. It was around the current Crown Prince’s age that he began to suppress the officials’ momentum and truly wield royal authority.
Our Crown Prince is also ready to take his own steps.
Power is difficult to share, even between father and son. Suppressing the instinctive resentment he felt as a monarch with a father’s affection, King Sejong spoke first.
“Are you trying to tackle tribute corruption?”
“···Yes, Father.”
Tribute, offered in kind as local specialties, accounted for 60% of the central government and royal household’s income.
Since the people, busy with their livelihoods, had little time to prepare tribute, the common practice was for the local magistrate to pay the tribute first and collect the cost later from the people.
This process inevitably left ample room for manipulation. Some magistrates colluded with merchants tied to powerful central clans and contractors, charging the people several times the original value of the tribute.
Thus, officials like Hwang Hee and Kim Jongseo frequently submitted memorials during times of famine, lamenting the abuses of the tribute system.
However, due to the underdeveloped state of commerce, making it difficult to procure goods otherwise, and the vested interests of royal relatives deeply involved in the tribute prepayment scheme, even King Sejong had not dared to touch reform proposals.
Yet, at this very moment, when he intended to clarify the succession by establishing Hongwi as Grandson, the Crown Prince sought to intervene in the tribute prepayment corruption!
His intention was all too clear.
“How far do you intend to go?”
King Sejong’s voice, usually benevolent, was as cold as if it held a blade.
“······.”
“How far do you intend to go, are you not listening?”
The reason King Sejong asked so sternly was that at the heart of the tribute corruption were the Pyeongsan Yun clan, headed by Yun Beon, one of Joseon’s wealthiest men, and his son Yun Sagyun, and the Cheongju Han clan, whose matriarch was the sister of Noble Lady Yang, a concubine of China’s Emperor Xuande.
Yun Beon was the maternal grandfather of Grand Prince Suyang’s wife, Lady Yun. Han Hwak was the father-in-law of Prince Gyeyang, the son of Lady Kim Shinbin.
And Lady Shinbin, having been close to Grand Prince Suyang since childhood for caring for him, meant that Lady Shinbin’s children, especially Prince Gyeyang, who was deeply favored by King Sejong, were very close to Grand Prince Suyang.
Therefore, King Sejong could not help but worry that the sword aimed at tribute corruption would strike the Yun and Han clans, and ultimately, Grand Prince Suyang.
“Tribute is levied per household, making the tyranny of prepayment the biggest cause for people to abandon their homes and wander. I intend to create a system to replace tribute with this opportunity.”
Lee Hyang’s words carried a just cause that even King Sejong could not refute.
“Haa…!”
King Sejong sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
However, the deliberation of Joseon’s greatest sage king was not long.
“Create the tribute reform plan with Jeong Inji and Kim Jongseo. Inji is adept with numbers and led the tax law reforms, so he will be skilled in creating a system to replace tribute. However, while Inji is intelligent, he is also lazy, which hinders meticulous execution. On the other hand, Jongseo possesses extraordinary intellect and, with unwavering resolve, will push through and ensure execution.”
King Sejong had bestowed two of his cherished officials.
Lee Hyang exclaimed, overwhelmed with emotion.
“Yes, Father. I will prepare thoroughly to ensure its execution within five years.”
“When reforming something with significant vested interests, one must complete preparations perfectly and then implement it by surprise. Do not give the enemy time to counterattack. Sternly warn Inji that he will be killed if he blabs anywhere.”
King Sejong did not issue a separate warning to the stubbornly upright Kim Jongseo.
“Yes, Father. To procure the various goods obtained through tribute without issue, commerce must develop to a certain extent. If goods circulate abundantly, your long-cherished project of currency circulation will also succeed.”
At the mention of ‘currency circulation,’ King Sejong’s expression darkened.
From his predecessor, King Taejong, to himself, they had repeatedly attempted to replace rice and silk, which served as currency, with paper money or coins, but all had ended in dismal failure.
“Very well. Since you wish to do it, I will support you with all my might. But promise me one thing.”
“···What is it?”
Lee Hyang, who would have readily replied ‘Yes, I shall. Just command me,’ cautiously asked again.
King Sejong, gazing at his son, suddenly swallowed back a surge of emotion akin to tears and cried out in a choked voice.
“Do not kill them. Do not kill my sons. Do not stain your hands with your brothers’ blood, Hyang!”
“Father!”
“It will be difficult. It will be difficult. I know better than anyone that in the royal household, saving is a thousand, ten thousand times more difficult than killing! But, Hyang. I managed, didn’t I? So you must do it too!”
‘But Father’s brothers were either incorrigible wastrels or monks who had withdrawn from the secular world. My brothers are Suyang, who possesses the skill to match his ambition, or Anpyeong, who attracts scholars of his generation like a magnet with his refined charm!’
Unable to utter the words he wished to shout, Lee Hyang sighed, “Father!” and bowed his head.
“You saw it too. Before your maternal grandfather’s tragic death, how bright and warm your mother was, like sunshine. After that incident, your mother became a mere shell, performing her roles as mother and queen plausibly, but was her true heart invested in it?”
“Father!”
Tears began to mix with Lee Hyang’s voice.
Just as King Sejong had tearfully witnessed the tragedy of his own mother, Queen Dowager Wongyeong of the Min clan, Lee Hyang had tearfully witnessed the tragedy of his own mother, Queen Soheon of the Sim clan.
He remembered his mother’s image, weeping and fainting as she pleaded, “Please, just spare Father’s life.”
And after that day, his mother would sometimes look at him and his younger brothers, who bore the surname Lee, with a coldness as if they were strangers.
Even when Father had taken new concubines and fathered numerous illegitimate children, Mother had treated the concubines and their children with equal kindness, but it seemed less like the duty of a virtuous woman and more like the resignation of someone whose heart had been shattered.
“If such a mother were to lose her children as well, could she survive? Therefore, Hyang! Hyang! Promise me. Promise me. That you will not kill!”
“I will not kill them, Father.”
“Yes. That’s how it should be. It must be.”
Even as they made their vows, King Sejong and Lee Hyang knew well.
No matter how much they tried not to kill, if the other side harbored rebellious intentions first, there would be no other recourse.
That was the destiny the royal family had to bear as the price for enjoying the world’s highest nobility.
After Lee Hyang withdrew, King Sejong remained in deep silence for a very long time.
Then, he summoned the Grand Audience Hall eunuch, Jeon Gyun.
“Find out precisely who the Crown Prince spoke with last night and why he requested a private audience.”
Though he half-suspected, King Sejong wished to confirm it precisely.
\\\
Grandson Hongwi began staying in the Seoondol of Jaseon Hall, the Crown Prince’s residence, from the very next day.
“I decorated it so beautifully and sent it, yet instead of receiving Royal Favor, you snatch Grandson away from me?”
Noble Lady Yang wore a very displeased expression, but she eventually agreed to Yunseo’s persuasion that having the Grandson by the Crown Prince’s side was better for the future.
However, like a master of politics, she added one condition.
"Once you go there, the territorial pressure of Seunghwi and the Crown Prince’s other concubines will be quite severe." Since he is alone night and day, they will try to vent their frustrations on you. Come to me when you face difficulties. I will speak to Her Majesty the Queen to mediate. In return, you must speak well of my sons to His Highness.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship. I will visit soon with a fine gift.”
Despite Yunseo’s repeated apologies, Noble Lady Yang clicked her tongue, lamenting that she couldn’t make the Crown Prince fall for her even with a Scent Pouch worth the price of a fine tiled house.
Then, with determined eyes, she advised Yunseo to loiter around the Crown Prince’s quarters every night now that she would be staying in the East Palace.
“The saying ‘You don’t realize your clothes are getting wet in a drizzle’ applies to relationships too. When His Majesty the King came to visit the Crown Prince, how often did I loiter around wearing that Palace Lady uniform I gave you?”
Thus, unable to let go of her lingering attachment, Noble Lady Yang, with a reluctant face, saw Yunseo and Hongwi off to the East Palace.
Noble Lady Yang’s concerns about Hong Seung-hwi were quite accurate.
When Eom Naegwan and Park Sanggung arrived at the East Palace with Grandson, five Seunghwi and two Palace Lady concubines stood in the courtyard of Jaseon Hall, adorned splendidly.
While all bowed deeply, the most elaborately dressed concubine stepped forward and greeted them.
“Grandson, you have arrived?”
It was Seunghwi Hong.
Seunghwi Hong, who was recorded in actual history as being treated like a queen under the title ‘Inner Palace’ during King Munjong’s reign, possessed a modern, striking beauty.
Lee Hyang seemed to favor women with upturned eyes like a cat’s, but this face appeared somewhat cunning to the elders, making it understandable why Hong Seung-hwi was never ultimately appointed Crown Princess.
‘Meanwhile, our Crown Prince has surprisingly many concubines. Seven of them.’
Setting Hongwi down from her arms, Yunseo scanned the seven concubines, all of whom possessed outstanding beauty, one by one.
There were five selected concubines from noble families with the rank of Seunghwi, and two of the sixth rank, Suchik, who had received Royal Favor as palace maids but did not hold Inner Court rank.
With so many concubines, why did Lee Hyang not have many children?
It was strange that children were not born easily, or that they died soon after birth.
Although it was the medieval era with high infant mortality, the previous generation, King Sejong, had fathered a remarkable eighteen sons and four daughters, most of whom survived to adulthood.
‘Could it be…?’
Had she intervened?
Yunseo eyed Hong Seung-hwi with suspicion.
Hong Seung-hwi, clad in a splendid light green dangui with gold leaf patterns and a light purple seuran* skirt, also glared fiercely at Yunseo.
In fact, Hong Seung-hwi was in a very bad mood.
It had been two years since Crown Princess Consort Kwon died, and she had been dreaming of becoming Crown Princess and residing in Jaseon Hall’s Seoondol with His Highness. But suddenly, the Grandson had occupied that room.
‘Moreover, I heard she entered Bihyeon Pavilion last night, exuding a strong scent of Musk.’
While she hadn’t received Royal Favor, rumors abounded that she had spoken with him alone late into the night, even dismissing her attending eunuch.
Hong Seung-hwi found that fact even more irritating.
If he had simply taken her quickly, there were plenty of women, so he might have grown tired of her easily. But conversation!
He was a man who only did what was necessary when coming for intimacy.
Though she wanted to pull out all of that luscious hair, she had no immediate grounds to seize upon. So, Hong Seung-hwi decided to take out her frustration on the Grandson, whom Kwon Ga risked her life to protect.
“Our Geum-ah waited eagerly for the Grandson.”
Hong Seung-hwi nudged a young girl she was holding by the hand towards Hongwi.
The girl shyly stepped forward and smiled sweetly at Hongwi.
“Brother.”
It was Hyunjoo, Hong Seung-hwi’s daughter, the same age as Hongwi.
“Geum-ah, shall we play? Our Gwonga Nai made it for us to play.”
As she said this, Hongwi looked up at Yunseo with a proud expression.
Instantly, the gazes of the concubines turned towards Yunseo.
‘So that’s the woman who talked with His Highness for so long.’
Their gazes were fierce, filled with envy and jealousy towards Kwon Ga, as they themselves had never shared even a physical conversation, let alone a verbal one.
Yunseo, who had no intention of harming Lee Hyang, felt utterly wronged.
“Kwon Ga, the Palace Lady, is on the day shift, isn’t she? Then who is on the night shift?”
Hong Seung-hwi asked.
At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary question, but the following words revealed the malicious intent behind it.
---------------------------------------
