Chapter 5
Episode 5. Hongwi Amidst the Fierceness of Flowers (1)
It has been three days since arriving in Joseon.
Yunseo had learned much over the past three days.
The most surprising thing was that the residences of each palace and concubine were all independent, with little interaction between them.
Each palace or hall had its own eunuchs, Royal Ladies, Palace Ladies, servant boys, female servants, and managed their households separately.
And it was said that they did not visit Queen and His Majesty the King daily, but instead sent a Royal Attendant Eunuch to inquire about their well-being.
Hongwi, who was still three years old, was being cared for in a separate pavilion within Yanghwadang, the residence of Noble Lady Yang, a concubine of King Sejong, who would later become Consort Hye, because the Crown Princess had passed away.
And it was said that Hongwi's wet nurse, who was currently away from the palace due to a fever, was Madam Lee, the mother of Noble Lady Yang.
‘So later, Consort Hye, Lady Yang, and her sons, Prince Hannam and Prince Yeongpung, would die trying to protect Danjong.’
‘The fate of concubines, and the fate of royal princes born to concubines, are divided into valleys of life and death depending on whom they support as the next king, let alone the lives of the eunuchs, Royal Ladies, and Palace Ladies beneath them.’
Yunseo greatly disliked that she had ended up in a medieval era where lives were subordinate to others' destinies, but no matter how much she fidgeted, putting on and taking off the gold ring, she gradually came to accept the fact that she could not return.
As soon as she accepted reality, she entered a mode of strategizing for survival, vigorously applying all the knowledge she had learned, seen, heard, and felt.
After hearing that Yunseo had eaten poisoned sweet cakes, Royal Lady Park had glared at her fiercely and remained on guard.
However, what was to befall Hongwi in the future was not something that could be prevented by a single Royal Lady glaring.
“Your Ladyship, how are the factions among the Palace Servants currently divided within the palace? And to which faction does Jeon Gyun belong?”
As Yunseo asked while eating dinner, Royal Lady Park put down her chopsticks and examined Yunseo carefully. ‘Can a person change this much? Did she get possessed by a ghost after eating poison?’ she seemed to be thinking.
“After eating the poison, the haze in my head cleared, and I can see many things. I have been living in the palace for nearly ten years now, haven't I?”
Then, Royal Lady Park, muttering, ‘Well, you were so foolish before. If you could just understand what you overheard in important places, you’d be on par with most officials,’ drew a map of the palace factions and showed it to her.
“Jeon Gyun, the head of the Eunuch Office, and Lady Jo, the Chief Royal Lady, are on the same side. They are like 'sworn siblings' and have been particularly close since they were young, so they have joined forces. However, they are people who serve His Majesty the King with utmost sincerity and have no other intentions.”
When she said ‘sworn siblings,’ Royal Lady Park winked.
This meant their relationship was more than just colleagues.
Well, that was outside Yunseo’s interest.
Even without physical desire, feelings of affection could still arise.
More importantly, Jeon Gyun had allied with Grand Prince Suyang early on and was a palace servant who was deeply involved in the sudden death of Munjong and the Gyeyujeongnan rebellion, which marked the beginning of Hongwi's downfall.
“Well, one doesn't know what is in a person’s heart or what kind of person they are until they are put to the test, not even oneself. Jeon Gyun’s faction is one we must absolutely make an enemy of. Who is on the opposite side?”
“Why, it’s us. The master of the East Palace, Eom Sangjeon, who serves the person most noble after His Majesty the King, and myself, of course!”
“Excellent. Then, Your Ladyship and Eom Sangjeon must soon determine which of the Palace Ladies within the East Palace are truly trustworthy. And Your Ladyship, is there anyone outstanding who is accumulating wealth and power outside the palace?”
Royal Lady Park’s eyes, hidden within her wrinkles, flashed.
“Nosandae, a servant who manages and grows my wealth, is very intelligent and useful. Honestly, how much can a Royal Lady’s monthly salary be? It is Nosandae who has grown it to this extent today. His adopted daughter is a courtesan at Daewongak and is a very good singer. Thanks to that adopted daughter acting as a broker, buying land cheaply from gamblers and men driven mad by women who would sell their fields to make her a concubine, I have been able to amass such great wealth.”
Oh, ho!
This is a good combination.
A courtesan who sings well would naturally have many interactions with noble families who enjoy refined pleasures, and the fact that she could amass wealth to this extent with her father, based on that connection, means she is not only a good singer but also intelligent and ambitious.
“Very well, Your Ladyship. Once the superiors return to the palace and the bustle subsides, I must see Nosandae and that courtesan daughter of his soon.”
“Alright. Whoever put poison in your throat, truly, if I catch them, I will make them bow and die. I will also find out what that poison was and pour enough of it into the throats of fools like you were, so they don’t die.”
This person. She says such dangerous things.
The next day, Hongwi was dressed with particular care.
It was the day to personally pay respects to His Majesty the King and Queen, who had returned late last night.
And that ‘His Majesty the King’ is none other than ‘King Sejong the Great’!!!
The man chosen as the greatest sage in the five-thousand-year history of the Korean people.
And above all, the one who created the great Hangeul, saving us from the suffering of illiteracy.
Yunseo could barely sleep the night before, thinking she might be able to see his Visage, even from afar.
“Little Highness, what kind of person is Grandfather?”
As Yunseo put on a dark brown robe with a gold sash, she asked Hongwi in a voice only he could hear.
Then, Hongwi’s pitch-black eyes sparkled, and after a moment of thought, he replied with just one word.
“Nothing.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing at all!”
The three-year-old replied sullenly.
It was a response implying that a mere Palace Lady dared not ask for an evaluation of Grandfather.
His already plump cheeks puffed up like a rabbit’s hindquarters from his displeasure.
That brat, not only cute but also incredibly intelligent.
Seeing his adorable appearance, Yunseo couldn't help but kiss Hongwi’s cheek.
Then, Hongwi cupped his cheeks with both hands and widened his eyes.
“You are so cute, I apologize, Little Highness.”
As Yunseo whispered, Hongwi suddenly covered his face with his short fingers as if embarrassed.
“···Nothing, you Palace Lady.”
Even as he scolded her for being presumptuous, the corners of the Little Highness’s mouth turned up shyly.
His appearance was heart-stoppingly cute, and at the same time, it made her heart ache.
He must have received very little affection like this, our Hongwi.
Your older sister, no, your very distant descendant, will dote on you a lot from now on.
As Yunseo was vowing her devotion of affection.
The doors slid open to the sides, and a woman wearing a splendid purple silk dangui with gold patterns entered.
She had a gentle appearance, appearing to be in her late thirties, but like the women of the palace, her eyes were sharp.
Everyone except Hongwi prostrated themselves in greeting.
“We greet Noble Lady Consort.”
It was Noble Lady Yang, the mistress of Yanghwadang.
‘The Consort Hye of later years. The one King Sejong favored when he visited the East Palace to see the ailing Crown Prince Yi Ha, and was smitten by the Palace Lady attending him.’
Though her peak beauty had passed, her loveliness was enhanced by a refined charm.
While Yunseo stared blankly at Lady Yang, scanning her historical knowledge, Noble Lady Yang sat before the grandson and opened her arms.
“Little Highness, come here. Hurry and get ready, you must go see Grandfather and Grandmother.”
Her voice was full of affection.
However, Hongwi turned away from Lady Yang and burrowed into Yunseo’s embrace.
“I don’t like that Palace Lady.”
Then, Noble Lady Yang raised her right eyebrow towards Yunseo.
‘Why is the Little Highness, who used to be so fond of me, pushing me away?’
Her gaze seemed to ask.
“Weren’t you very busy these past few days preparing to welcome His Majesty the King and Queen back from the Onyang temporary palace? Perhaps he has grown unfamiliar with you after not seeing you for several days.”
“Ah!”
Nodding, Noble Lady Yang clasped her hands together and touched her forehead, making a gesture of bowing to the grandson.
“Little Highness, I had a great many things to do to welcome the return of His Majesty the King and Queen. Once we finish paying our respects today, I will be by your side again.”
“I don’t like her.”
Despite Noble Lady Yang’s earnest apologies, the young grandson remained stubborn.
“Then, go with Kwon Ga, the maid, Little Highness.”
Noble Lady Yang said kindly, then gave Yunseo a meaningful look before sweeping her splendid skirt and heading outside first.
The residences of King Sejong’s concubines, including Noble Lady Yang, were clustered to the northwest of Queen Soheon’s quarters, Gyotaejeon.
Consort Shin Kim’s Heerakdang, who held the highest rank of Jeong 1-pum, was the largest, and Noble Lady Yang’s Yanghwadang, who held Jong 1-pum, was the second largest.
“Hold the Little Highness carefully and follow me.”
Noble Lady Yang, who was resplendent, strictly instructed them to prevent any accidents of dropping him. She wore three splendid hairpins adorned with pearls, agates, and red jade in her elaborately styled hair, and a long, deep purple jeogori that reached below her waist.
As they left Noble Lady Yang’s pavilion, a grand pavilion with a soaring gate was visible in the distance.
It was Heerakdang, the residence of Consort Shin Kim, King Sejong’s most favored concubine.
As they approached Heerakdang, the soaring gate opened, and people poured out.
At the forefront stood a woman wearing a red silk dangui with a splendid gold lotus pattern, her hair adorned with jewelry like flowers.
‘Consort Shin Kim!’
Yunseo’s arms holding the grandson tightened.
Consort Shin Kim.
A former public servant of Naejasi, she was the concubine most favored by King Sejong, and a mother blessed with many children, having given birth to six princes, including Prince Gyeyang, King Sejong’s most cherished son.
All of her sons sided with Grand Prince Suyang and actively cooperated in the killing of Danjong, allowing her to live out her natural life in peace.
A woman of voluptuous beauty!
‘And perhaps the one who ordered me to be given poisoned sweet cakes!’
Yunseo narrowed her eyes and quickly scanned the group of Palace Ladies standing behind Consort Shin.
However, she could not find the Palace Lady who had given her the sweet cakes.
But Yunseo was not the only one whose eyes blazed with fire.
Noble Lady Yang was also shooting glances full of hostility at Consort Shin.
Upon spotting the grandson’s party, Consort Shin Kim bowed respectfully.
“We greet His Highness the Grandson.”
As Consort Shin bowed her head towards the grandson held in Yunseo’s arms, Noble Lady Yang haughtily lifted her chin.
The gazes of the Royal Ladies and Palace Ladies attending Consort Shin immediately turned fierce, as if receiving a greeting from a subordinate.
When Consort Shin straightened up, Noble Lady Yang, who held a lower rank, slightly bowed towards Consort Shin.
“We greet Lord Shinbin.”
“Noble Lady Yang has taken great pains to care for His Highness the Grandson.”
“Pains? How can you utter the word ‘pains’ when it is a crucial task of serving the future Crown Prince?”
At Noble Lady Yang’s subtly sarcastic remark, Consort Shin’s beautiful eyebrows trembled.
However, Consort Shin was not one to be easily defeated.
“I also told Prince Gyeyang, who accompanied His Majesty to the Onyang temporary palace, ‘You have worked hard.’ If serving His Majesty is ‘work,’ does that mean caring for His Highness the Grandson cannot be called ‘work’?”
My son, Prince Gyeyang, was deeply favored by His Majesty and accompanied him to the Onyang temporary palace,
while your son, Prince Hannam, was not favored by His Majesty and had to remain here in Hanyang.
It was a veiled jab.
“‘Work’ is not a word used for superiors. You should say, ‘Your efforts are great,’ to follow proper etiquette.”
Even as a mother, one must show respect to the King’s son, yet you, born a lowly servant, have not yet learned proper etiquette.
At Noble Lady Yang’s elegantly veiled words, Consort Shin’s face turned cold.
In the first round of this war of words, Consort Shin had been defeated. Her eyes fell upon the grandson, who was tightly holding Kwon Ga, the maid.
Ah, so that is her weakness.
“Lately, His Highness the Grandson has been inseparable from Kwon Ga, the maid. Indeed, blood is thicker than water. Kwon Ga is a relative of the pitiful Consort, so the Little Highness must feel a special connection.”
She acts so high and mighty, raising the grandson, yet the grandson only favors that Kwon Ga, the maid.
Consort Shin used Yunseo to launch a second attack.
