Chapter 11
11 The Tyrant
Above the flickering lamplight illuminating the dim royal chamber, the silhouette of white silk robes moved.
A man wearing a demon mask, dancing slowly to the rhythm of a softly resonating gayageum melody.
His movements held an indescribable majesty.
Unconventional.
A word often used by the court officials when referring to Yeonsangun, the young King who ascended the throne at the age of twenty.
Could there be a better word to describe him than those two characters?
Unlike his father, who was called a 'Wise King' and compiled the <Gyeongguk Daejeon>, the constitution of Joseon, he possessed a completely different temperament.
'How could such a scoundrel have come from his father?'
It was said that the Grand Queen Dowager sighed on the day Yeonsangun ascended the throne.
The actions of the scoundrel King were truly unrestrained.
It was commonplace for him to skip the lectures where ministers and the King gathered to discuss Confucian scriptures and instead indulge in drinking, music, and banquets.
Once, he even brought a hunting falcon and hunting dogs to a lecture, leaving everyone present speechless.
His actions that made the court officials frown were not limited to that.
His attitude towards the so-called theory of interaction between Heaven and man, which was a fundamental principle of the Joseon royal court, was also unique.
"Your Majesty, Heaven and man are closely connected, and when the harmony of yin and yang in human affairs is broken, Heaven's warnings follow."
According to the court officials' logic, all disasters that befell the nation ultimately stemmed from the King's lack of virtue.
Therefore, when a severe drought or flood struck the country, the King would take the lead in self-restraint by reducing the number of side dishes in his meals, a practice known as 'Gamsun'.
In more severe cases, they would even completely withdraw the Royal Cuisine Table, a practice known as 'Cheolseon'.
However, Yeonsangun was the first and last King to completely disregard this tradition and principle.
"How can the cold in spring be the King's fault?"
That was what the King retorted nonchalantly to the court official's petition requesting Gamsun in response to the spring drought.
"Look at the historical records! Even under the rule of wise Kings, there are years of famine, and even under the rule of tyrants, there are years of abundance. Originally, Heavenly Dao has no rhyme or reason."
Furthermore, Yeonsangun also changed the concept of the Royal Cuisine Table itself.
Originally, the Tribute goods that were placed on the Royal Cuisine were a measure of the abundance or scarcity of each region.
In other words, it was meant to allow the King to grasp the state of the nation's harvests at a glance while enjoying his Royal Cuisine.
However, it was also during Yeonsangun's reign that this was twisted into the concept of gathering the finest ingredients for a single person to enjoy the ultimate gourmet experience.
In an era when Confucian frugality was strictly demanded even of the King,
Yeonsangun, who broke all principles and common sense and pursued extreme luxury and pleasure, was an unprecedented maverick throughout the Joseon Dynasty.
The gayageum melody gradually quickened.
The movements of the man wearing the demon mask also began to change more passionately.
The white silk robes that enveloped his body fluttered violently like flower petals in the monsoon rain.
"The custom of insulting the King must be corrected; the customs of the Yangling must not be neglected.""
Yeonsangun was not merely a reckless scoundrel.
The great bloodbath that swept through the court a few years ago, known as the Muo Sahwa.
An impious document that insulted the royal family was found in the historical records written by the Sarim faction, and Yeonsangun never forgave those involved.
Countless heads were severed as a result of that incident.
Even the leader of the Sarim faction, who was already deceased, was exhumed from his grave and his body was dismembered.
The so-called Bugwan Chamsi.
Perhaps it was from that time that
the court began to call the King a tyrant and fear him.
Ting-
The music stopped as the gayageum string snapped.
At the same time, the movements of the man wearing the demon mask also ceased.
As the man slowly removed the mask, Yeonsangun's face, with its pale and distinct features, was revealed in the lamplight.
Perhaps because he had been moving his body vigorously for a while, beads of sweat like jewels were glistening on his forehead.
"Your Majesty, the Evening Royal Cuisine is ready."
Just then, the voice of the Head Court Lady could be heard from outside the royal chamber.
"Let them in."
"Your Majesty, would it please you if this concubine were to attend to you this evening...?"
Jang Nok-su, the Royal Concubine Soog-yong who had been playing the gayageum in the corner of the royal chamber until just now, said in a soft voice.
However, Yeonsangun slowly shook his head.
"I wish to dine alone tonight."
"But Your Majesty, to taste the Royal Cuisine for poison..."
"Soog-yong must be tired from personally selecting new court ladies today. Retire to your chambers."
His attitude was more resolute than usual.
Nok-su, who had been watching Yeonsangun's expression, did not say anything more.
"...Then this concubine will take her leave."
* * *
The brief moment of waiting outside the royal chamber for the Royal Cuisine Table to be set felt like an eternity to Ji-young.
Soon, the sliding doors opened, and Jang Nok-su and the Flourishing Clear group poured out.
Even in the very brief moment when her eyes met Nok-su's, she could feel the subtle murderous intent emanating from her eyes throughout her body.
"The Evening Royal Cuisine is served."
At that moment, the Head Court Lady, who had been kneeling outside the royal chamber, said those words and gave Ji-young a look.
It was a signal to go inside.
At the same time, the double sliding doors of the royal chamber opened with precise movements, like automatic doors activated by a sensor.
In the center of the royal chamber, a man sat on a golden cushion, wearing white silk robes.
'That man is Yeonsangun...'
Ji-young swallowed hard, feeling nervous.
If she just did as Sungjae and the Head Kitchen Lady had taught her, there would be no problems.
"Y-Your Majesty. I present the Evening Royal Cuisine."
Ji-young, along with the other court ladies, placed the Large Round Tray, Small Round Tray, and Desk Tray one by one.
"Only the newly arrived child shall remain, and the rest of you shall leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As soon as Yeonsangun finished speaking, all the court ladies except Ji-young retreated backward and disappeared outside the royal chamber.
In this dim space, lit by a few lamps, there were now only two people.
'To actually see the face of Yeonsangun, whom I had only read about in history books, in person...'
She had met him briefly in the Royal Kitchen earlier, but at that time, she hadn't dared to raise her head and look at his face properly.
The moment she cautiously raised her head, Ji-young felt as if her heart was sinking.
Yeonsangun was staring intently at her!
'W-What? Why is he so handsome?'
Ironically, that was the first thought that came to Ji-young's mind.
Well, according to the records, Yeonsangun was tall with fair skin, and he had delicate features like a woman, so it was written.
But who would have thought that he would have such a modern appearance, almost like an actor?
Ji-young tried hard to erase that thought from her mind.
'Get a grip! This man is a psychopath with a ruined personality. The worst tyrant in Korean history.'
"What are you doing?"
A realistic voice reached Ji-young's ears, who was deeply immersed in strange thoughts.
"Shouldn't you explain the Royal Cuisine that has been served?"
Yeonsangun was staring at Ji-young so intensely that it was burdensome.
"Ah, yes. Your Majesty. Well, you see..."
Ji-young cleared her throat to hide her flustered feelings.
Today's Royal Cuisine was a place where she had to prepare the best of the best in order to win the King's favor.
What Ji-young had prepared was the finest authentic French cuisine rooted in the cuisine of the Palace of Versailles, the so-called 'haute cuisine'.
Haute cuisine, which was established during the reign of the Sun King Louis XIV, known as a famous gourmet, was the reason why French cuisine became the standard of gastronomy around the world.
There was no way that Yeonsangun, the greatest gourmet of Joseon, would not recognize its true value.
'The cuisine of Louis XIV's time, when haute cuisine first appeared, was a single-course meal, not a multi-course meal. It's not much different from the current Royal Cuisine Table.'
Even though it was not a multi-course meal, it did not mean that the types and order of the dishes were not distinguished.
Ji-young first pointed to the Hors-D'Œuvre, which whetted the appetite before the main dish.
"On this side, to whet your appetite first, I have placed thinly sliced raw beef with various pickles and pears."
Raw beef is a dish that often appears in French cuisine under the name 'Steak Tartare'.
It was sliced in the style of Italian Carpaccio and topped with sour and salty pickles and sweet pears to stimulate the appetite.
Next was the turn to introduce the Potage (a thick and rich soup).
"This is Milk Porridge made with mushrooms and vegetables."
In this era without cream soup, this soup, which was made by applying the recipe of Milk Porridge and boiling it thickly with cow's milk, should be called a kind of Joseon-style Potage.
Next, the fish dish (Poisson) and poultry (Volaille) would appear in order.
"Grilled Silvermouth Fish seasoned with Antiboise, and Black Chicken dish made with a foreign cooking method called Confit."
"Ah, Anti... boise? Confit...?"
Yeonsangun slowly repeated the unfamiliar pronunciations as if he was curious.
Silvermouth Fish and Black Chicken were ingredients that the King usually enjoyed, as written in the memo that Im Soong-jae had given her.
Seeing those familiar ingredients cooked with cooking methods he had never heard of before and placed on the table, Yeonsangun's face, who was accustomed to all kinds of delicacies, looked surprised.
But the real surprise was yet to come.
"And this is the very dish that even the most renowned gourmets of the West cannot resist!"
Ji-young lifted the silk wrapping cloth (a wrapping cloth used to cover food in the royal court) with a splendid phoenix painted on it.
"Goose liver, Foie gras."
The lightly cooked goose liver was placed whole.
Instead of making it into Pate (a spread to be spread on bread) or Terrine (a jelly-like solidified form), which modern people often eat, the Foie gras, which is made by cooking the real goose liver whole, is used only for the finest dishes.
"Foie... gras... A strange name."
Yeonsangun seemed to be already salivating.
'...But no matter how high-end a delicacy Foie gras is, it can't be the main dish of a banquet.'
Ji-young smiled with satisfaction at Yeonsangun's appearance, who couldn't take his eyes off the Royal Cuisine Table as if he was possessed.
The highlight of today's banquet was from now on.
It was time for the centerpiece of this banquet, the Entree (main dish) to appear.
"And this is the heart of today's Royal Cuisine."
The flower of haute cuisine, Viande (meat).
"Deer tongue, lightly cooked at a low temperature and served with Madeira sauce."
"Ooh..."
Deer tongue is one of the eight delicacies of the world, known as 'Paljin'.
It was a dish made by applying the French method of cooking pork tongue and serving it with Madeira sauce, which was simmered with Cheongju instead of white wine.
But the reason why Ji-young specifically put deer tongue dish as the main dish was not only for its taste.
King.
Since ancient times, deer have symbolized the King.
The struggle for the throne is called 'Chukrok (chasing deer)', which is why.
So eating deer, especially cooking and eating deer that you have caught yourself, symbolizes the power of a strong King.
That is also in line with the spirit of French court cuisine, 'haute cuisine'.
The French word 'grand couvert', which means 'King's banquet', is a word that in itself signifies royal authority.
Wasn't the Palace of Versailles, where meals close to the exercise of power took place, originally a hunting villa for the Sun King Louis XIV?
'Strong desire for power and high self-admiration! And an extremely sensitive sense of taste! This Royal Cuisine Table can perfectly satisfy all of Yeonsangun's desires!'
The Royal Cuisine Table created by Ji-young, which transcended the limitations of time and country.
Beyond that, an increasingly interesting expression began to appear on Yeonsangun's face as he looked at Ji-young.
"Taste it for poison."
"...Yes?"
"I have heard the explanation well, so taste it for poison."
"Ah, I understand."
Ji-young cut a piece of the deer tongue dish and put it in her mouth.
The unique taste spreading from the softly cooked meat was conveyed intact throughout her mouth.
"Now, give me a piece too."
"Yes...?"
Ji-young was startled by Yeonsangun's words.
Did serving food mean that she had to feed the King directly?
Light-colored, sharp eyes were staring at Ji-young intently.
It seemed that he was serious.
"Here... it is."
With trembling hands, Ji-young picked up a piece of deer tongue and brought it to the King's lips.
Soon, the movement of Yeonsangun receiving the food was transmitted gently through the chopsticks to her fingertips.
It was as if she was reminded of the memory of nervously handing food to a ferocious animal in a zoo when she was a child.
That strange moment, which felt somewhat uncomfortable and anxiously trembling.
Yeonsangun suddenly grabbed Ji-young's wrist.
"Gasp...!"
Just as a scream was about to burst out from under Ji-young's chin,
unexpected words came out of Yeonsangun's mouth.
"...I have decided on you."
※ Author's Note
Combining the records of Yeonsangun's appearance in the Veritable Records and unofficial history, he was tall and slender, had white skin, red eyes, and had beautiful features like a woman, resembling his beautiful mother.
