Chapter 29
Episode 29. Second Meeting with King Sejong at Cheonsu Hall (2)
“Grand Prince Imyeong is an example of that.”
At Yunseo's words, Princess Jeongui gasped, "Ah!", and King Sejong's face hardened.
From the sudden change in their expressions, Yunseo intuitively felt that this was a kind of taboo within the royal family.
However, Yunseo's professional attitude, built as a psychotherapist, was not to let clients live with the memories that were the root of their problems concealed, even if recalling them was extremely painful.
Concealment does not mean the problem remains concealed.
Those problems buried deep in the abyss of memory due to extreme pain resurface with a strong presence at the slightest hint—a similar situation, smell, or sound—to when the problem first arose. Yet, because the person has concealed the source from their consciousness, they are swept up in various destructive emotions without knowing why they feel fear, anger, or extreme depression.
Yunseo recalled the image of herself running past Jonggak, over Dongdaemun, towards Gunja Station.
Since she held the possibility of escape in her hands at any moment, she would face today's reality with even more courage and fidelity.
As Yunseo calmly met Your Majesty's gaze, King Sejong slowly, and seemingly reluctantly, opened his mouth.
“So, Gwaya, you are saying that Grand Prince Imyeong's being such a scoundrel, unlike other princes, is due to the unspeakable tragedy the Queen experienced during her pregnancy with that child?”
“···It may not be the entirety of it, but I dared to infer that his behavior is uniquely harsh among His Highnesses the Grand Princes. I apologize if my words were presumptuous.”
“······.”
“······.”
When Queen Soheon was pregnant with Grand Prince Imyeong, her maternal grandfather, Sim On, who had returned from a mission to Ming, was arrested on charges of treason and, after enduring brutal torture including the crushing leg press, was executed. Her maternal grandmother and the rest of her family were reduced to servants.
Perhaps because of this, unlike the Crown Prince or Grand Prince Suyang or Grand Prince Anpyeong, Grand Prince Imyeong caused disturbances by raping palace ladies and courtesans indiscriminately, leading to his title of Grand Prince being revoked twice.
And how much that incident must have tormented Queen Soheon could be guessed from how Lee Hyang would choke up with grief whenever she spoke of her mother.
If given the chance, Yunseo wanted to conduct a counseling session with Queen Soheon.
She wanted to soothe the immense traumatic wounds that Her Majesty was desperately hiding behind the mask of a benevolent queen, renowned throughout history, and thereby heal the pain of Lee Hyang, who watched her mother suffer.
Before Queen Soheon skillfully concealed her pain, Lee Hyang and Grand Prince Suyang must have witnessed her in her state of madness from raw agony. Coincidentally, unlike their philandering grandfather and father, and their younger full siblings, these two neither abhorred nor indulged in women.
Yunseo analyzed this as an unconscious resentment and rebellion against her father, King Sejong, who, despite causing such immense suffering to his mother, had continuously pursued carnal pleasures.
Since she had started speaking, Yunseo brought up another matter she wanted to obtain from King Sejong today.
“Your Majesty, not only prenatal education but also the postnatal upbringing environment is important. Unless there are unavoidable circumstances, a child must reside with their parents. When I was young, I observed that children who lived with at least one parent, even in impoverished and harsh conditions, had much brighter and healthier emotions. Children separated from both parents, even if raised in affluent environments, tended to grow up with withdrawn and unstable emotions.”
“Is that so?”
Yunseo keenly sensed the doubt mixed into King Sejong's tone.
However, knowing well from her clinical experience and related literature how profoundly the presence or absence of stable, consistent care from parents or primary caregivers in infancy and early childhood impacts a person's entire life, Yunseo's professional ethics were not so weak as to gloss over what she had already said just because King Sejong's mood had soured.
[The level at which humans acquire self-control skills is largely determined by how harmoniously they interacted with their caregivers in early life. Children who were provided with ample comfort and strength by their parents enjoy its effects throughout their lives. In essence, they secure a kind of buffer that can withstand even the worst moments fate may throw at them.]
Reciting internally once more the passage from Bessel van der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score, which Yunseo kept close like a bible and strived to apply in her counseling sessions, she steadfastly continued.
“How crucial an intimate relationship with parents is for growth, Your Majesty is a prime example, are you not? I heard that when Your Majesty was growing up in the East Palace, King Taejong was in a period of despair, so he would sit the young Your Majesty on his lap and read many books to him, cherishing him. In contrast, Grand Prince Yangnyeong was sent to live with his maternal relatives.”
“!”
“!”
“Therefore, Your Majesty, I dare to speak. I believe it is fitting that our Lord of Pyeongchang, who is currently residing in a private residence, be kept within the Palace, by His Highness the Crown Prince's side.”
“!”
“!”
Princess Jeongui glanced at King Sejong with an expression that seemed to say, 'Is this girl going too far?', while King Sejong gazed down at Yunseo with eyes whose intentions were difficult to fathom.
Yunseo met his gaze steadfastly.
Even if King Sejong judged Yunseo to be an impertinent palace lady unsuitable as Lee Hyang's consort, he would not strip Hongwi's nanny of her position because of this.
Even if she were unsuitable as the Crown Prince's consort, she would be an impeccable nanny for the grandson.
And surely, he would bring back Princess Pyeongchang, who would later be Princess Gyeonghye, to the Palace.
This would be to restore Princess Pyeongchang, who, after losing her mother, Crown Princess Consort Kwon, was sent out of the Palace under the pretext of avoiding misfortune, to her rightful place, and it would also be for the sake of our Hongwi, who would grow up much brighter and more stable with his elder sister by his side.
Finally, King Sejong called Yunseo.
“Gwaya, come here, to the desk.”
“···Yes, Your Majesty.”
For a moment, she felt fear, as if he might slap her, but imagining herself swimming across the Han River at a slow pace once more, thinking of Maegeumi waiting outside to help her escape if necessary, and recalling Lee Hyang's words that she would protect her no matter what, Yunseo clasped her hands above her navel and approached the desk with a graceful gait.
Princess Jeongui, who watched without daring to intervene, her eyes wavered with anxiety.
King Sejong pointed to the inkstone on the desk.
“Pick up the brush and write in 'those characters' as I dictate."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"'Prenatal education and upbringing environment are important. A child must grow with their parents.' Write that."
“···I am not skilled with a brush, as I do not have many opportunities to use one.”
“It does not matter.”
With hands trembling from relief, Yunseo picked up the brush and wrote as instructed.
[Prenatal education and upbringing environment are important. A child must be with their parents.]
“Oh, Father.”
Princess Jeongui, who had been watching with an intrigued gaze, exclaimed.
King Sejong and Princess Jeongui put their heads together and looked at the paper Yunseo had written on.
“You wrote it horizontally, not vertically. And by spacing out the letters by meaning units and adding dots, it's much easier to understand the meaning, Father.”
“Hmm, Princess Jeongui. You must come to the Palace every day for a while.”
“Yes? For what reason······?”
“I intend to compile what Gwaya said earlier into a book. We will call it <Yugabogam> and widely disseminate it using these characters.”
“!”
Yunseo, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, found herself staring intently at King Sejong's face again.
However, King Sejong, unconcerned by Yunseo's irreverent gaze, spoke directly to her this time.
“Gwaya, you must also participate in the work of creating characters and establishing theories, where the Crown Prince, our Grand Princes, and Princess Jeongui will gather with me. I will set the schedule within three days, so you must attend.”
“···Yes, Your Majesty.”
‘So, I will finally see Grand Prince Suyang. He will shoot me looks that scream 'I want to kill you' when we meet. How should I hide the gaze of hatred and disgust?’ she thought, when Your Majesty's voice was heard again.
“And, Princess Jeongui, you should go to the Queen's Palace now and see the Queen.”
“Father!”
Princess Jeongui cried out, her eyes wide, at the sudden dismissal.
In that instant,
Yunseo's body tensed automatically.
The words of Noble Lady Yang, whispering, "Your Majesty is extremely fond of women!", and the words of Park Sanggung, stating, "Your Majesty is a person of extreme principle and strictness," echoed simultaneously in her mind.
Although she fully trusted Park Sanggung's words, she had come to Cheonsu Hall wearing the most worn-out and baggiest outfit among her palace lady attire, and had chosen a hairpin whose luster had faded and threads had frayed.
Knowing better than anyone that clothing is merely a base excuse for someone intending to cause trouble, her hands moved on their own.
Yunseo instantly retreated backward and knelt by the door. It was a position from which she could kick open the door and flee in case of emergency.
“Father, why······?”
“Did you think I wouldn't know that Hyangyi let you in? I have matters to discuss with Gwaya separately, so do not worry and go to the Queen's Palace.”
It was the King's command, spoken in a gentle tone but impossible to disobey.
“Then, Father, I shall take my leave. Gwaya, I will see you tomorrow. I will contact you separately.”
The rustling sound of silk faded indifferently as she left the King's study.
“······.”
“······.”
In the King's fearful silence, Yunseo sighed, 'Ah, royal life is so diversely arduous.'
Even Empress Myeongseong, who wielded considerable power beside King Gojong, had gritted her teeth and said, "If I am reborn, I will not even set foot within the four gates." Yunseo also vowed repeatedly, 'If I escape or return to modern times, I will never set foot in the Gyeongbokgung area again!'
“Teach the Queen these new characters.”
“···Pardon?”
Taken aback by the completely unexpected words, Yunseo straightened up and looked at King Sejong again.
“The Queen sometimes becomes cold as if she were a different person, refusing to speak or listen. It is understandable. To whom can she confide her heart-wrenching feelings? So I told her to write it down to resolve it, but she got angry, saying, 'My head already hurts, why must I write more in difficult Hanja?'”
‘King Sejong also tried in his own way to soothe Queen Soheon's wounds.’
“Go and teach her the characters and try to listen to her. Since you seem to understand people's psychology and hearts well. However, do it without others knowing. It could harm the Queen's dignity.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I shall do so.”
This was something Yunseo had also wished for, so she happily replied.
At this point, she thought he must have finished speaking. She thought she could finally return to the East Palace, where Hongwi was eagerly waiting, and shifted her weight, but
“And, Gwaya.”
King Sejong called Yunseo again.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Why do you think Jeon Gyun was punished?”
“!”
The name Yunseo had been trying to forget came from Your Majesty's lips.
A new surge of warning hormones flooded her body, and her consciousness snapped awake.
Yunseo lowered her head again.
---------------------------------------
