Chapter 15
15 Unjongga (1)
For a while, Ji-young's mind was bound to be in turmoil.
A series of events too difficult to digest had poured out one after another.
Im Soong-jae, Jang Nok-su, Yeonsangun, Royal Cuisine Master.
And now, even the girl who followed her around, Jang-geum.
'That child... the future Great Jang-geum...?'
I thought I heard that Jang-geum in history was definitely a female doctor...
Every time she saw the girl following Ji-young with her bright, sparkling eyes, her head became more and more complicated.
But it's not just that that's complicated.
What was really strangely intertwined was none other than Ji-young's status.
'What on earth is so complicated about this...'
She was assigned to perform the duties of Royal Cuisine Master according to His Majesty's orders, but that was only a matter of duty.
In terms of status, Ji-young had no choice but to be a court lady belonging to the Inner Court.
And a court lady is, after all, the King's woman.
Which means,
'...Court ladies can't go outside the palace!'
So, despite being in charge of the Royal Cuisine Master's work, Ji-young, unlike other cooks, could not commute to and from the palace.
'The only good thing is that I was allowed to put new dishes only on the evening Royal Cuisine Table.'
The previous Royal Cuisine Master, Jeon Royal Cuisine Master, was in charge of the morning and lunch Royal Cuisine, and instead, Ji-young decided to take charge of only the evening Royal Cuisine Table.
But the strangely twisted situation was not all of it.
Yeonsangun insisted that Ji-young, the Royal Cuisine Master, must bring the Royal Cuisine Table herself.
Because she had to present a new dish every day, she had an obligation to explain the new dish.
As a result, Ji-young had a strange identity with two roles overlapping.
Royal Cuisine Master in charge of the King's evening Royal Cuisine,
And, even the role of a court lady who brings the Royal Cuisine directly to the bedchamber, tastes it, and attends to His Majesty.
'...What on earth is this ridiculous thing!'
But it's no use feeling unfairly alone.
The absurd situation had been there from the moment Ji-young was appointed as Royal Cuisine Master.
So now Ji-young has the unprecedented title of 'court lady' and 'Royal Cuisine Master'.
Still, the reason why she doesn't let go of her mind and perseveres in bizarre situations is because
Ji-young has only one purpose.
'I must find that book, 'Record of Yearning for the Clouds', and return to modern times!'
To that end, she had been cooperating with Royal Secretary Im Soong-jae's tactics until now...
But,
Can I just trust and wait for Im Soong-jae, who is only good at talking?
I'm anxious unless I move myself.
'I have to find a clue to that book somehow...'
The welcome sight that caught Ji-young's eye while she was thinking so hard was
The water maidens and government slaves preparing to go out, wearing green overcoats.
"Are you going out of the palace now?"
"That's right. We go to the market every five days to get food ingredients and kitchen utensils."
Yoon Nae-gwan, who was leading the water maidens and preparing to go out, looked at Ji-young with eyes that seemed to ask why she was asking everything.
At that moment, Ji-young's eyes sparkled.
Unlike ordinary court ladies, water maidens are women who commute to and from the palace.
So it seemed that all the work of going to the market to buy food ingredients was left to them.
'Yes, the market! If I go there, I might find out something!'
The market.
The largest market in Joseon, lined up along Unjong Street, where people gather like clouds.
Most of the country's products will pass through there.
Then, maybe I can find traces of Record of Yearning for the Clouds there.
At least it would be much better than just waiting vaguely here in the palace.
"Wait a minute. Can I go with you?"
"Are you saying you're going to the market with us?"
Ji-young nodded quickly at Yoon Nae-gwan's question.
"His Majesty ordered me to serve new food every day. To do that, I have to see with my own eyes what kind of food ingredients are in the market."
"But you are a court lady. As you know, court ladies are not allowed to go outside the palace."
...Of course, you would answer that way.
Knowing that, Ji-young has her own way of preparing.
"Provision officer!"
Ji-young sighed as if she was frustrated.
"Then, when His Majesty doesn't like the Royal Cuisine Table, I have no choice but to bring up the story of the Provision officer. I have no choice but to say that there are essential food ingredients that the Provision officer could not obtain..."
"Oh, oh, ahem! What nonsense are you talking about!"
The effect was amazing!
Yoon Nae-gwan shuddered as if he was horrified just by imagining it.
"W-w-what kind of bizarre words are you saying! How can you try to drag an innocent person down like a water ghost!"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. So, to avoid such a sad thing... shouldn't I go to the market with you?"
Ji-young blinked her eyelids nonchalantly, throwing words that were neither a threat nor a plea.
Yoon Nae-gwan, who had been watching her for a while, sighed deeply as if the ground was sinking, and eventually nodded.
"But this fact must never leak out. Do you understand?"
"I really won't say anything and just follow you quietly. Really."
Ji-young quickly picked up the green overcoat and put it over her head, as if no other sound would come out.
Jang-geum, who saw her, also quickly put on her overcoat and followed Ji-young.
* * *
Yukjo Street.
The main road in front of Gwanghwamun, where the six central government offices are located.
As soon as that street, which stretches straight towards Namdaemun, ends, the first thing you encounter is the stench of the sewer that stings your nose.
But that smell contains the vitality of the marketplace.
Another street that stretches long, intersecting the end of Yukjo Street horizontally.
As soon as she entered that space lined with all sorts of miscellaneous items, Ji-young's eyes widened involuntarily.
'This is... Unjong Street.'
Government slaves from wealthy families on errands, servants from taverns, peddlers from the provinces, and so on, gathered like clouds and hurried through the narrow streets.
A spectacular sight with plenty to see, from peddlers setting up stalls to cauldrons of rice soup houses emitting hot steam and tempting passersby.
Jang-geum, who followed Ji-young, seemed to be looking around Unjong Street for the first time, and seemed to be busy turning her head around.
However, the palace people, who had deeply covered their overcoats to the top of their heads, hurriedly passed through the crowd without giving a glance around.
'If so many people gather in one place, there might be some clues about that book...'
Whether she knew Ji-young's regretful heart or not, the palace people's steps did not hesitate for a moment.
There was no choice.
The place where they would trade goods was called 'Yuk Euijeon', that is, a store that officially supplied goods to the government office, so there was no need to stop by other stores.
In addition, it was almost an unwritten rule not to mix words with ordinary people during official duties.
Especially when resentment towards the King is spreading in the capital as it is now.
"Don't look around and keep walking."
Perhaps Yoon Nae-gwan was worried about Ji-young, who kept looking around, so he came over and whispered.
"Hoo-ee~"
A strange exclamation came from somewhere.
At the same time, a few unfamiliar figures somersaulted nimbly in the air and flew in front of them.
Those who are wearing masks used for mask dances.
When Ji-young and Yoon Nae-gwan's party were embarrassed and looked back, those wearing masks gathered one by one behind them and blocked the road.
"I-impudent! This is the procession of palace maids!"
Yoon Nae-gwan, who was leading the group, raised his voice and shouted, but it didn't work at all.
Only then could Ji-young instinctively feel it.
That these Masked clown were surrounding them.
"You bastards!"
Yoon Nae-gwan raised his voice loudly once again.
"Can't you see that it's a procession of palace people!"
But the Masked clown didn't even pretend to listen and just moved clumsily as if to tease them.
Choraengi mask, Imae mask, Chwibari mask, Gaksital...
Before they knew it, more than a dozen masks that had gathered there were confusingly surrounding Yoon Nae-gwan's party.
Each mask, with its bizarrely exaggerated smile, even exudes a chilling feeling.
Since you can't know the faces behind the masks, you can't even guess who they are or what their intentions are.
"Eolssu!"
When one of the Masked clown added an exclamation, another clown jumped into the air to the beat.
"Wow~"
Cheers erupted from all directions at the light movement.
Before they knew it, crowds of onlookers were gathering around.
Ji-young could vaguely realize what situation they were in.
'These clowns are now making fun of the palace people!'
Doesn't the laughter of the onlookers prove that fact even more clearly?
"S-stop it right now!"
Yoon Nae-gwan, surrounded by clowns, shouted in a seemingly stern voice, but the laughter of the onlookers only grew louder.
"Wahahaha~"
As people's laughter grew louder, the clowns, who were getting more and more excited, began to play the drums and janggu to match the rhythm.
- Doong, doong, doong, doong
In time with the sound, the Masked clown slowly began to dance.
As the rhythm gradually quickened, the movements of the clowns who were performing tricks also quickened.
- Doongdoongdoongdoongdoongdoongdoong
Dizziness gradually began to be felt in Ji-young's head as she watched the dazzling movements.
How should I accept this behavior now?
Clowns publicly mocking people working in the palace.
Crowds feeling joy at the sight.
Doesn't that mean that the people's jeers and ridicule towards the government are that great?
While she was thinking that, a dark figure suddenly appeared in front of her eyes.
One of the clowns wearing a Choraengi mask was sticking his face in front of Ji-young.
"Gasp!"
Ji-young was startled and unknowingly took a step back,
At that moment, the hem of a Navy robe suddenly fluttered and flew in front of her eyes.
"......?"
What caught Ji-young's eye in her confusion was the face of a strange man.
Dark sideburns, glaring eyes, and a square jaw.
The man in the Navy robe pushed the Choraengi Masked clown, who had come in front of Ji-young, in the solar plexus with his palm.
It wasn't a movement that required much strength, but the clown, who had a light center of gravity, flew several feet in an instant and fell onto a stall in the market.
- Clatter
The sound of the stall collapsing and the sight of the Choraengi mask rolling on the dirt floor were visible.
The man in the Navy robe did not stop moving and kicked another clown's knees like lightning.
That clown also lost his balance in an instant and fell down nicely.
It was truly a lightning-fast movement.
Before they knew it, the Masked clown had broken the encirclement that had surrounded Ji-young's party and began to face this strange man warily.
And Ji-young could only be dumbfounded by all of this situation.
'......W-who on earth is this person?'
