Chapter 11

Lee Hyang at Bihyeongak (3)

When Lee Hyang was born, King Sejong had not yet been formally invested as Crown Prince and had no other concubines.

Thus, as the eldest son, Lee Hyang received the steady and abundant love of Sejong and Queen Soheon.

Until around the age of two—when the development of the brain's neural system and emotional framework is largely completed—Lee Hyang was extraordinarily fortunate. He grew up in the rare environment of the royal family where the brutal power struggles, conspiracies, and schemes were absent. From the age of eight, he lived with firm support as the noble Crown Prince.

Because of that, Lee Hyang never truly understood emotions such as resentment, hatred, or envy that ordinary people possess. In Yoonseo's estimation, that was the psychological reason he ultimately failed to keep Grand Prince Suyang in check.

"Your Highness was raised too nobly. You do not truly know how wicked and cruel a person driven by desire can become. Even the sons of ordinary noble families cannot afford to remain peaceful with only such noble hearts if they wish to protect their household."

Through psychological counseling, Yoonseo had seen and heard far too much of how vile humans could become.

Because humans are capable of doing anything, laws, institutions, and rules are necessary to restrain their cruel and selfish nature.

Lee Hyang, being too upright himself, never paid close attention to the ambitions of his younger brothers who coveted the throne.

"If a ruler is excessively noble and overly idealistic, then the good and capable officials and subjects beneath him easily fall victim to those with schemes and ambition."

As a result, not only would his son suffer a terrible death, but countless talented people—whom both King Sejong and Lee Hyang had raised with great effort—would be driven to their deaths.

At Yoonseo's blunt words, Lee Hyang fell into deep silence.

After reflecting on the world of learning he had built without a moment's idleness under his father's guidance, he shook his head.

"What you say is a deviant path. It is heresy that reduces human nature to that of petty men. According to the teachings of the sages, a gentleman—"

"If one only followed the way of the sages, could Joseon have been founded? If only the sages' path had been followed, would the Crown Prince have been replaced in the previous generation?"

"You! You!"

Yoonseo flattened herself on the floor.

But her words did not falter.

"The path of a king must be different from the path of ordinary men. A king must mediate, coordinate, and govern people who desperately run toward their own interests and desires. If Your Highness refuses to acknowledge that and merely follows the ideal teachings of the sages superficially, then you will not be able to protect yourself—or our poor little prince."

Yoonseo let out a deep sigh and spoke firmly.

"The talents that His Majesty and Your Highness painstakingly cultivated through the Hall of Worthies will also be driven to death. You will become a great criminal before the state. That is the future of Your Highness—and the future of Joseon—that the Crown Princess showed me!"

"..."

"..."

A heavy silence fell across the room.

Lee Hyang looked at the court lady from the Kwon family, who was dressed as beautifully as a flower while fiercely reciting the harsh Legalist theory advocating rule by law.

A criminal before the state.

If he truly lost everything as that child had said, he would indeed become a great criminal before the nation.

Treason alone was not the only great crime. Failing to protect those one must protect and allowing the court and the people to fall into chaos was also a form of treason a ruler committed against the state.

Since I received firm support from the beginning, just as she said… I never even considered such complicated aspects.

Lee Hyang let out a sigh of deep anguish.

However, Lee Hyang was not an easy man who could be swayed by mere words.

"Tomorrow I will bring Hongwi here to Jaseondang at once. But something makes me curious."

"What is it that you are curious about?"

Even though the Crown Prince's tone carried stern authority, the court lady from the Kwon family did not shrink back in the slightest. She simply widened her eyes and asked.

For the first time in a long while, Lee Hyang thought a woman looked cute.

And with that thought, the bodily desires he had briefly forgotten began to stir again.

Living as Crown Prince among an extraordinary father and outstanding officials, he had always been restrained, never once even loosening his collar. Suddenly he wondered about Kwon's age.

She was ten when the Crown Princess entered the palace… so she must be eighteen this year.

Before, she had been like an unripe chestnut—awkward and immature. Now she was like a well-ripened chestnut…

Lee Hyang cleared his throat.

He seized the dangerously wandering train of thought and forced it back to the matter at hand.

"You will continue to stay by Hongwi's side, will you not? What I mean is—will the jealousy and envy once directed toward Lady Yang now be directed toward you? And what do you intend to gain from that position?"

"Oh, not at all."

Yoonseo chuckled and shook her head.

"I am not a concubine—just a nanny court lady. Besides, I come from an insignificant family. I would be fortunate if I am not looked down upon."

"…Kwon, you truly are…"

Different.

That child was different.

Even a lowly servant woman doing menial work would try to fabricate something if asked such a question—dressing up nonexistent virtues in order to appear favorable.

Yet that girl openly declared her humble origin without the slightest hesitation.

She is so different from the other court ladies.

If other court ladies were asked the same question, they would normally put on pitiful expressions, lament their uncertain situation, and plead to be saved.

They would bow their heads deeply, twisting their bodies so that the pale cleavage of their chest became more visible, using tearful gazes filled with coquetry and temptation, slightly parted lips stimulating his desire.

But that girl merely lowered her head completely, showing only the pale nape of her neck—

And with the dignity of a lone beast, her whole body seemed to shout:

"I have absolutely no interest in Your Highness."

And that was why.

Lee Hyang, who was always deliberate, cautious, and disciplined in everything he did, impulsively issued an order.

"Very well. Since you know your place so well and care only for Hongwi, that heart of yours is rather admirable. Tomorrow I will arrange for Hongwi to move to the Seo-ondol here at Jaseondang. And—"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Yoonseo shifted restlessly, eager to return to Head Court Lady Park's quarters now that she had achieved everything she needed from this meeting.

Lee Hyang continued.

"You said the skin cannot breathe, did you not? Then I suppose I must remove my dragon robe. Attend to my clothes."

"…E-excuse me?"

What kind of statement was that?

The words were so unexpected that Yoonseo forgot proper etiquette and stared directly at the Crown Prince.

"But I…"

She had been about to say she had never attended someone's robes before, but she quickly shut her mouth.

She had dressed Hongwi in his official robe and tied his jade belt before.

So she could do it.

She could… but still.

"P-please call a eunuch…"

The moment she heard the order to remove his clothes, the body hidden beneath the brilliant red royal robe instinctively formed in her mind.

His shoulders beneath the loose robe would surely be broad and solid.

Since he rode horses well and shot arrows skillfully, he must have well-formed muscles too.

Suddenly, Lee Hyang looked different to her.

The cold and flawless image of the Crown Prince who tolerated not a single mistake faded.

In its place stood the image of a strikingly handsome man.

A man born noble, radiating an untouchable dignity—

Raising one eyebrow slightly with a playful hint,

And staring at her with an unreadable gaze.

"Come."

Lee Hyang stood up and spread his arms.

At his urging, Yoonseo rose reflexively and approached him.

Her head was spinning.

"…Since I have been attending to the young prince, I may not be very skilled at this."

When Yoonseo suddenly hesitated like that, Lee Hyang merely smiled faintly without replying.

She only needed to remove the outermost layer of the many garments he wore, yet her heart pounded violently.

She had to start by untying the jade belt at his waist, but she didn't know where to place her hands. As her fingers trembled in hesitation, the Crown Prince reached out and took her hand.

His fingers were extremely warm.

"Press here. It will release from inside."

"Y-yes."

Lee Hyang pressed the front piece where the jade ornament was attached, and a soft click sounded as it loosened inside.

It felt as though her mind loosened along with it, and Yoonseo bit hard into the inside of her cheek.

Get a grip. Get a grip.

Things in the royal palace always move in ways you never expect.

She removed the jade belt and placed it on the half-chest cabinet, then she had to undo the button beside his collar.

He was tall, but that part was easy enough. Once the button was undone, she would have to untie the robe strings.

And once the robe strings were untied—

Kwon Yoonseo of the 21st century knew men. She knew desire and the pleasures of the body.

After her parents died, she had buried herself in work to forget the grief, maintaining a long period of abstinence.

But if that restraint were to break here—

"Y-Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"Do I… absolutely have to do this?"

Yoonseo asked urgently.

Just removing the jade belt had already ignited her desire. If she removed the royal robe adorned with the magnificent golden dragon insignia—

She might not be able to control herself.

Get a hold of yourself. Get a hold of yourself. I already spouted irreverent nonsense earlier. If I lose my reason here and pounce on him, there's no way I'll leave this place alive tonight!

Desperately trying to hide her wildly pounding heart and increasingly ragged breathing, Yoonseo lowered her head deeply and spoke respectfully.

"I am not accustomed to this, and I fear I might accidentally tear some part of the precious dragon robe."

I'm afraid I might rip Your Highness's clothes to shreds.

Lee Hyang looked at the court lady, who had lowered her flushed face and was nervously rubbing her hands.

Earlier she had spoken so boldly, yet she found attending to his clothing this difficult.

"You truly are an interesting woman."

If it had been another court lady, she would already have started testing the waters while removing the jade belt—perhaps letting her chest brush lightly against his arm, or pressing her body close from behind as if embracing him while undoing the buttons of the royal robe.

The moment such thoughts crossed his mind, Lee Hyang himself suddenly found his body in an embarrassing state.

A ruler was above shame. Taking a single court lady would merely be a moment's entertainment and nothing to hesitate over.

But taking the Kwon court lady in that way would be… complicated in many respects.

"You may leave now."

Lee Hyang commanded in a low voice.

"Yes, Your Highness. I take my leave!"

The moment the order fell, Yoonseo hurriedly dashed toward the door.

"I will soon begin acting as regent and will be extremely busy for a while. Once things settle somewhat, I will summon you. When Hongwi falls asleep, come over here."

The Crown Prince's command landed on Yoonseo's back as she fled toward the door.

His calm, lowered voice sounded strangely dangerous.

After the Kwon court lady left.

Even after returning to the east ondol room of Jaseondang, Lee Hyang could not easily fall asleep.

It was not merely because the bodily desires that had lain dormant since the Crown Princess's death were slowly awakening again.

— When Your Highness died early and the young prince ascended the throne, the grand princes coveted royal authority and plotted treason…

— If a ruler is excessively noble and idealistic, the good and capable officials and people beneath him will easily fall victim to those filled with schemes and ambition. Even to protect the good, a ruler sometimes needs to be ruthless.

The words of the Kwon court lady rang loudly in his ears.

Because of that, he could not focus even on the memorial submitted by Minister Hwangbo In, who was currently serving as the inspector-general in Hamgil Province, regarding the construction of fortresses along the Tumen River basin.

Nor could he concentrate on how to respond to the repeated petitions from officials urging him to withdraw the royal command that allowed Crown Prince Lee Hyang to conduct state affairs in the king's stead.

Lee Hyang spent the entire night awake.