Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 — Who is My Father? (3)

“History won’t change, right?”

Hyang looked out of the East Palace. He was still massaging his numb legs. There were remorse and lamentation in the eyes looking at the outside scenery.

The summary of the battle for the Crown Prince's position between the defender Yangnyeong and the attacker Choongnyeong, was flowing as the history recorded, with Choongnyeong as the winner.

Yangnyeong was not an incompetent person. Although it wasn't recorded, he was a man with ambition, like the one he had shown at Hyang's first birthday party.

However, like what had been recorded in the Annals, rather than learning academics, he enjoyed hunting in the mountains and fields. Yangnyeong was a ‘free soul’ who liked booze and women.

Because he was such a person, he could not overcome the enormous stress caused by the competition.

Eventually, in order to relieve that stress, he fell more into hunting and nightlife. It even led to an extreme incident in which he committed a taboo, which was adultery.

In the end, Yangnyeong's defeat in the battle for the crown prince position was because Choongnyeong’s talent was better than his. Also, the biggest cause of his defeat was he couldn’t overcome stress and sank his own ship.

* * *Although Grand Prince Choongnyeong was the winner of the crown prince's decision, he was also severely wounded in the process. All of his wife's family had been killed.

When Choongnyeong was installed as the crown prince, Shim On emerged as the most influential figure among the influential figures. However, King Taejong was not someone who would leave such Shim On.

The day Hyang came to the palace after Choongnyeong installment and saw King Taejong for the first time, he was reminded with a memory from his previous life.

When Jinho—Hyang in his previous life—was in high school, his Korean History teacher, Samcheonpo—a nickname given because he often got sidetracked in class, judged King Taejong like the following:

“If Catholic priests who assert the divine right of kings arrived in Joseon during the reign of King Taejong, he would certainly make Catholicism the national religion. Of course, after that—except for the minority who were obedient—he would behead the others.”

Teacher Samcheonpo said it was ‘IF’. But Hyang, who had entered the palace with Grand Prince Choongnyeong, couldn’t help but agree with his teacher’s words the moment he saw King Taejong for the first time.

‘Samcheonpo was right!’

Despite the old age and fatigue that filled his face, the glint in King Taejong’s eyes made people feel intimidated.

“Welcome.”

King Taejong, who had received the greeting from Choongnyeong couple who just became the crown prince, had an unexpectedly soft voice.

“Many things have happened, but from now on, you are the Crown Prince. Prepare to rule this nation after me and strengthen your ties with your brothers.”

"I will engrave Father's precious words in my mind."

When Choongnyeong's answer was over, Queen Min, who was sitting next to King Taejong, began to speak.

“Crown princess. In the future, the inner palace will be in your rule. You'll have to work hard to make sure there's no clamor to happen.”

“I will engrave Mother's words in mind.”

The gaze of King Taejong and Queen Min, who was giving advice, eventually fell upon Hyang.

“He looks very bright.”

Choongnyeong smiled and responded to King Taejong's words.

“He's already learning elementary learning.”

“He is? This child, isn't he only 4 years old now?”

“This October he will be 4 years old.”

“That's so fast!”

“I could see that he is more talented than me.”

King Taejong seemed satisfied with Choongnyeong's answer.

“This is a blessing for our Joseon and the royal family!”

Hyang, who was observing King Taejong and Queen Min, quickly straightened his posture when King Taejong and Queen Min's eyes gathered on him. When the Taejong couple showed satisfaction with Choongnyeong's praise, Hyang grumbled inside.

‘How much effort have I poured out!’

While the competition between Yangnyeong and Choongnyeong was getting fierce, Hyang continued to agonize over what was best for him.

King Taejong smashed the armrest as he shouted after listening to Ahn Heonoh’s report.

“What!”

The ‘Prisoner Kang Sangin’ once again rose to the surface and blazed even bigger than before.

* * *As the ‘Prisoner Kang Sangin’ was ignited once again, Hyang’s maternal house was struck by a bolt out of blue.

Kang Sangin was sentenced to goyeolhyeong(4) while Park Seub and Shim Jeung were beheaded. Shim On, who had just returned from his duty as an envoy to Ming, was harshly investigated then sentenced to death by poison, and all of his family members became slaves.

While these things were going on, a storm was raged on inside the palace.

“Is it not enough with my family that you also did this to your daughter-in-law's family?”

Queen Wongyeong, who saw a tragedy that had happened to herself was repeated once again, raised her voice, but King Taejong busied himself with the cleanup work.

While all those chaoses happened, Hyang fell into agony.

‘It sucks that my body is still a child!’

If this was a normal 4-years-old child, they wouldn’t have been able to grasp the situation. However, for Hyang, who had the memories and personality from his mid-30s, it was a tough time to bear.

‘If there is a suitable maternal relative, they could be a strong protective wall. If I could meddle in and reduce the anger on my mother’s family, wouldn’t it be a great help for me in the future days?’

Hyang was determining what to do while thinking about the future, and the fact that King Taejong had been very fond of him since he entered the palace. Nevertheless, he decided to not meddle in.

‘No. I think it’s better for me to stay still. That's what happened in the actual history. There is a possibility I'll be successful if I do a ‘bawling show', but there is also a possibility this problem will only get bigger if this is seen as taking advantage of a 4-year-old kid. And the most important is this father of mine....’

Even though his in-laws’ family was falling apart, King Sejong didn't show any response. No matter how powerful his father, King Taejong's authority was, his unresponsiveness was beyond the limit.

Hyang decided on his move in response to his father's reaction.

‘King Taejong and King Sejong are in a tacit agreement! Then it is best not to move!’

As a result, Hyang had to watch his mother shed blood tears for days and nights.

King Sejong's in-laws’ family had been shattered because of ‘Prisoner Kang Sangin', but the storm didn't subside easily.

“It's inappropriate for the traitor's daughter to hold the queen consort position. We must depose her!”

The officials from the Office of the Inspector-General and Office of Censors had been petitioning the deposing agenda, but King Sejong put his throne in line and showed utmost opposition.

In the end, King Taejong ended the dispute of the deposing agenda with the following word.

“There is no need to speculate. It was unreasonable to depose someone who has borne three sons of the king.”

With King Sejong's opposition and King Taejong's decision, Queen Soheon(5) was able to keep her position.

Hyang nodded his head when he saw the deposing dispute ended.

“I'm glad I didn't meddle in.”

Hyang praised himself. Then, after praising himself for a while, Hyang looked at the place where the King and his vassals do their work.

“As expected, is it really impossible to fool your blood?”

[Perhaps because they were born from military blood, King Taejong as well King Sejong were cold when deciding on a matter.]

“My thought was right that the ultimate goal was strengthening the throne.”

Hyang, who had seen the situation in real-time, shook his head when he saw what was the real goal of King Taejong and King Sejong.

“It's not easy to be a king....”

T/N:

(1) Tong-Gam-Jeol-Yo: A summarized version of Zizhi Tongjian by Sima Guang that was distributed in Joseon.↻

(2) Uihuengsamgunbu: A military office in Joseon period that was divided into three posts, center, left, and right. Later disbanded on King Sejong 14th year reign. ↻

(3) Refer to even though the government was held by two kings, it should be the same because King Taejong only assisted King Sejong in military affairs.↻

(4) Goyeolhyeong: A death sentence by having the arms, legs, and head tied with ropes to oxen moving in opposing directions.↻

(5) Lady Shim, Hyang’s mother.↻