Translator: Nox

Chapter 60

60. Cheongwol Pavilion (1)

The Royal Tailor's Office.

A government office that produced and managed the clothing of the palace.

Amidst the brilliantly colored silks and satins, the hands of the seamstresses belonging to the Royal Tailor's Office moved busily.

‘No, no… This can’t be real.’

Several head dressers rushed towards Ji-young, who was wearing a dumbfounded expression.

Soon, white powder was being applied to her face. Crescent-shaped eyebrows were drawn, and red rouge was applied to her lips.

Even in modern times, she had only cooked and hardly ever worn makeup. Who knew she would come to the Joseon era and receive a full makeup makeover that was never in her destiny.

“Oh my, oh my, heavens. So~ beautiful. Your Majesty, please take a look. What do you think?”

The Vice Minister of the Royal Tailor's Office fluttered about, shaking his strangely trimmed mustache.

“Hmm… I clearly told you to make her into an unparalleled beauty.”

“Your Majesty~ if this isn’t an unparalleled beauty, then what is? Orchid-like eyebrows, cherry-like lips. Please, take another good look.”

“Well, I don’t know. I don’t think she is my type.”

…Now I’m hearing all sorts of nonsense.

I want to snap back that he’s not my style either, but if I did, I’d probably get my head chopped off.

Ji-young bit back her words and wore a sullen expression, but the adornment of her body didn’t end there.

“Your Majesty, this is the highest quality silk obtained from Jiangnan in Ming China. Please, feel the texture. The way it flows is truly a masterpiece among masterpieces.”

“It is nice… but isn’t the color a bit too vibrant…?”

“Oh, Your Majesty. This is the latest trend these days. And to top it off…”

Suddenly, a heavy object landed on Ji-young’s head.

The weight made her gasp involuntarily.

“This wig was made stitch by stitch by first-class wig makers! Elegant, beautiful, and extravagant! With this, no man will be able to take his eyes off her. Ohohong.”

A hairstyle that successful courtesans wore. The so-called 'Tremo-hair'.

It was essential to wear a wig adorned with many fancy jade hairpins.

‘Ugh. What is this, it’s so heavy…’

The highest quality wigs were said to be as expensive as several thatched-roof houses, so the decorations were naturally extravagant.

“Hmm, now that I look again, she does seem to carry herself well… Anyway, you have done well. I have something to discuss, so step back for now.”

Even after the people from the Royal Tailor's Office had left, Yeonsangun seemed fascinated by Ji-young’s unfamiliar appearance, scrutinizing her from head to toe for a long time.

‘What is this feeling? It feels like I’ve become a monkey in a zoo.’

Ji-young also glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

In that instant, her mind went blank again.

‘W, what is this!’

Thick makeup, vibrant clothes. Flashy accessories.

What was reflected in the mirror was unmistakably the appearance of a courtesan.

‘What is all this nonsense…’

It was all because of the bizarre idea that had spontaneously popped into Yeonsangun’s head a little while ago.

[This matter is of utmost importance, with Grand Prince Jinseong’s life on the line. You must not be suspected under any circumstances. Therefore, I have devised a clever plan…]

In short, she was to disguise herself as a courtesan, infiltrate Cheongwol Pavilion, and secretly retrieve the antidote.

Yeonsangun, explaining this insane plan, seemed to be completely serious.

[H, however, why must I go there…? ]

[You know the properties of various medicinal ingredients, including Nutmeg, better than anyone else.]

[No, that is…!]

[Just follow me without another word.]

And so, Yeonsangun had forcibly dragged her to this place, the Royal Tailor's Office.

So now, on top of being a Royal Cuisine Master, she had to pretend to be a courtesan.

“Don’t worry, Royal Cuisine Master. I’ll help you from the side.”

Jang-geum, her eyes sparkling, looked up at Ji-young from the side.

She looked like she was having fun, disguised as a donggi (a young attendant who follows courtesans and assists them).

‘It’s good that you’re so cheerful.’

Whether she knew Ji-young’s feelings or not, Im Soong-jae, who was praising Yeonsangun’s bizarre idea as a stroke of genius, chimed in from the side.

“Then, she must have a courtesan name. That is, a giname…”

“I shall give her a giname. I have something in mind.”

“What is it?”

“…I shall call her Sam-wol.”

What?

“Y, Your Majesty. P, please think it over again…!”

“It was in the blooming third month of spring that you entered the palace. Hence, Sam-wol.”

“…That, well, I feel a little awkward? Strange? Moreover, I dare to say that not only the name but this entire plan is bizarre…”

“Ahem! Now, Sam-wol. Hurry and get ready.”

Yeonsangun, as if the plan had already succeeded, laughed heartily and turned away without waiting for a response.

Ji-young’s face, watching him, twisted into a sullen expression.

But there was no other choice, was there?

‘Ha… This is driving me crazy.’

---

“I’m so excited. To think I’m going to a kibang that I’ve only heard about!”

Was it because she was still a minor and immature?

Jang-geum’s face was full of excitement, as if she were going on a picnic.

But a kibang was not a theme park where one could safely have an exotic experience.

“Surely, Jang-geum and I aren’t going to the kibang alone, are we?”

At Ji-young’s anxious voice, Im Soong-jae shook his head.

“Of course not. A kibang is full of drunken people and thugs, so who knows what might happen.”

“Exactly. There should be some kind of safety measure.”

“Courtesans always have a man who watches over them. They call them jobangguns.”

“…Jobangguns?”

Come to think of it, Ji-young seemed to have heard of them before.

Jobangguns. Men who protected the courtesan’s safety and managed her clients.

In the case of lower-class courtesans, it was similar to a ‘pimp’ or ‘gigolo’, and in the case of high-class courtesans, it could be said to be a manager.

“So, you’re saying that someone will be following us as a jobanggun?”

“That’s right.”

“Who is it?”

“…It seems he’s coming over there.”

At Im Soong-jae’s words, she turned her head and saw the figure of a tall man walking briskly towards them.

It was the mask dancer, Gong-gil.

“Huh? Could it be that, that person is the jobanggun?”

“His Majesty has decided so. He said that he would be a perfect fit.”

Sungjae didn’t seem to like the decision either, but he was following the royal order, so he had no choice.

Even in that situation, Gong-gil approached with a cheerful face and joked.

“The King is even sending this clown to a kibang. What a world we live in?”

Sungjae’s brow furrowed noticeably.

It was unacceptable for a mere mask dancer to speak to a Third Rank Royal Secretary in such a manner.

If His Majesty did not favor him, he would have been beheaded several times over.

“Don’t wag your tongue so carelessly! You just need to follow His Majesty’s plan as it is.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“…I will be watching.”

Sungjae pointed to his eyes with his fingers, glared at Gong-gil, and then turned away abruptly.

“Playing around. Watching, my foot.”

Gong-gil, who had cursed at Sungjae’s retreating back, turned his head back to Ji-young.

“…But what is this you’re wearing? I almost didn’t recognize you because you look like a completely different person.”

“Don’t say anything. I’m already too embarrassed…”

“Well, I’ve heard the gist of it. Your giname is Sam-wol.”

“P, please stop…!”

Ji-young covered her ears as if she didn’t want to hear it, but Gong-gil seemed to have a lot to say.

“…Ha, that’s an unfortunate name.”

“What?”

“It just reminds me of a courtesan who used that name. She ran away with a customer one night and got caught, I think.”

“W, wait a minute. Don’t tell me you’ve actually been a jobanggun before?”

“Not for long, but briefly. It’s quite the extreme job. Do you know how hard it is to cater to the whims of courtesans?”

Anyway, there was nothing this man hadn’t done.

But if Gong-gil had experience as a jobanggun, it would definitely be of considerable help in this matter.

“…I won’t let you get away with any unnecessary actions.”

Jang-geum, still not fond of Gong-gil, raised her eyebrows with her hands on her hips.

Ever since they first met at the market, Jang-geum had always been wary of Gong-gil.

He was a suspicious man, she thought.

But Gong-gil simply smiled at her as if she were cute.

“With the little na-in of the Royal Kitchen watching with such sharp eyes, how could I dare to act recklessly? Don’t worry.”

Ji-young quickly stepped between the two of them.

“Um, shall we get going now? Grand Prince Jinseong’s condition will worsen if we delay any longer.”

That’s what she said, but in reality, she just wanted to finish the job as soon as possible and throw off these cumbersome accessories.

However, the sight of them hurrying out of the palace looked, from afar, exactly like a courtesan, a donggi, and a jobanggun.

---

“Have you ever heard of the ‘Five Don’ts of a Kibang’?”

“Kibang… what?”

On the way to Cheongwol Pavilion, riding on a small donkey.

Gong-gil, holding the reins and walking, was giving a basic explanation of kibangs.

“The five things you shouldn’t do in a kibang. That’s what the ‘Five Don’ts of a Kibang’ are.”

Kibangs also served as social clubs for the wealthy, so there seemed to be certain etiquettes to observe there.

“You need to know this to act like a courtesan, so I’ll tell you briefly. First, don’t believe the words of a courtesan.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means don’t take all the sweet talk that happens in a kibang too seriously. It’s an unwritten rule of the kibang to bury and forget everything that happens there.”

She seemed to understand roughly.

After all, courtesans were women who sold fleeting smiles. So, in other words…

“…You’re saying it’s not a big deal for a courtesan to lie a little?”

“Oho. You learn quickly. You’d be a great success even if you became a real courtesan.”

“There you go again, saying unnecessary things. What’s next?”

“Second, don’t bring flowers to a kibang.”

“Why not?”

Jang-geum, who had been listening quietly, interjected with a puzzled look.

“It means don’t give your heart too much to a courtesan. After all, she’s a woman who meets this man and that man.”

“…That’s too harsh.”

At Gong-gil’s answer, Jang-geum quickly became sullen and muttered.

“The third is don’t brag about your wife in front of a courtesan. A courtesan is also a woman, so it’s not polite to talk about other women in front of her.”

“What’s the fourth?”

“Don’t show off your literary skills in front of a courtesan. I’ve seen many scholars embarrass themselves by reciting poetry poorly.”

The level of culture of courtesans who dealt with all kinds of upper-class nobles was often extraordinary, so it meant not to show off unnecessarily in front of them.

“And the last, fifth, is don’t talk about filial daughters or virtuous women in front of a courtesan. It means to respect the profession of a courtesan and not cross the line.”

These five were the so-called ‘Five Don’ts of a Kibang’.

Listening to them, they were rules that made sense in their own way.

“…Of course, all these rules only apply to first-class courtesans.”

“First-class courtesans? What’s that?”

At Ji-young’s question, Gong-gil sighed lightly and continued.

“First-class courtesans are the highest-class courtesans. They are the best courtesans with skills in various arts such as dance, song, poetry, calligraphy, and painting, as well as outstanding beauty. Ordinary nobles can’t even afford to be in their presence.”

In modern terms, they would be in the same category as A-list celebrities.

“And below that, there are second-class courtesans. They are also called ‘Eun-geun-jjas’.”

“Eun-geun-jjas…?”

“They are courtesans who have some talent and beauty, but are lower in class than first-class courtesans. Unlike first-class courtesans, they are called Eun-geun-jjas because they subtly sell their smiles if they receive enough money.”

“Ah…”

In other words, first-class courtesans don’t just move for money.

“And at the very bottom are third-class courtesans. Their main purpose is to sell their bodies rather than their talents.”

So-called prostitutes. Women who engage in prostitution.

So, not all courtesans were the same, and they were largely divided into three categories.

“…Well, it’s obvious, but Cheongwol Pavilion is a place where only first-class courtesans gather. Moreover, it’s famous as a place where even among first-class courtesans, there are special courtesans.”

Special courtesans even among first-class courtesans?

As if sensing Ji-young’s puzzled thoughts, Gong-gil continued.

“That’s why we’re going there. Cheongwol Pavilion is known for its skills in handling all kinds of medicinal ingredients. Because there are ‘medical courtesans’ there.”

“Medical courtesans…?”

Medical courtesans, or ‘pharmacy courtesans’.

Unique women who possessed both the characteristics of female doctors and courtesans.

Often, when describing Yeonsangun’s atrocities, it is said that he treated female doctors like courtesans.

But in fact, the expression ‘medical courtesan’ appears in the Veritable Records from the time of his predecessor, Seongjong.

So, women with both the characteristics of female doctors and courtesans had existed since before then.

“The owner of Cheongwol Pavilion, I heard she was a female doctor from the Hyeminseo.”

“Huh? The Hyeminseo?”

The Hyeminseo was a government office that treated the people of Hanyang and managed medicinal ingredients.

In modern terms, it would be like a national hospital, but a female doctor from there was working as a courtesan?

“Moreover, that woman is said to be no ordinary person.”

That was not difficult to guess.

Operating a kibang in the red-light district of Hanyang, which was full of all kinds of troublemakers and drunks, would not be easy at all, even at first glance.

Before they knew it, Ji-young’s group had arrived in front of a tiled house with a towering gate.

There was only one lantern with the character for blue hanging in front of the gate, and from the outside, it didn’t look much different from any other nobleman’s house.

‘This is Cheongwol Pavilion…?’

Ji-young unknowingly tensed up and clenched her fists, but Gong-gil had a relaxed expression.

“Well, are you ready? Let’s go in.”

Gong-gil, standing in front of the gate, cleared his throat a few times and then shouted loudly.

“Come here~!”