Chapter 14

Sejong and Lee Hyang at Cheonchujeon (2)

Sejong looked long at his son, who now showed a side he had never seen before.

At twenty-two, when he had ascended the throne just two months after being named Crown Prince over Yangnyeong, he had been surrounded entirely by his father Taejong's officials.

Even after his father's passing, the elder ministers had constantly pressured him to execute Yangnyeong, using his misconduct as justification. It was only around the age his son was now that Sejong had finally subdued those officials and begun to exercise true royal authority.

Our Crown Prince is now ready to take his own steps.

Power was not easily shared, even between father and son. Suppressing the instinctive irritation of a monarch with the affection of a father, Sejong spoke first.

"Are you trying to root out corruption in tribute collection?"

"…Yes, Father."

Tribute, in which local specialties were submitted in kind, accounted for as much as sixty percent of the central government and royal income.

However, because commoners were too busy with their livelihoods to prepare such goods, it had become common practice for local magistrates to pay in advance and later collect the cost from the people.

This system inevitably invited corruption. Some officials colluded with merchants tied to powerful elites in the capital, extracting several times the original value from the people.

Thus, ministers such as Hwang Hui and Kim Jongseo had repeatedly submitted memorials, especially during times of famine, complaining of the abuses in the tribute system.

Yet due to the underdevelopment of commerce and the deep involvement of royal relatives and powerful families in these vested interests, even Sejong had not dared to touch reform.

And now—at the very moment when the Crown Prince sought to solidify the line of succession by appointing Hongwi—he intended to address tribute corruption.

The intent was unmistakable.

"How far do you intend to go?"

Sejong's usually gentle voice now carried a blade-like chill.

"…."

"I asked—how far do you intend to go?"

Sejong pressed him because at the center of this corruption stood some of the most powerful families in Joseon: the Papyeong Yun clan, including Yun Beon and his son Yun Sagyun, and the Cheongju Han clan, including Han Hwak, whose sister had been a consort of the Ming Xuande Emperor.

Yun Beon was the father of Grand Prince Suyang's wife, while Han Hwak was the father-in-law of Prince Gyeyang, son of Consort Shin.

Consort Shin, who had raised Suyang in his youth, was especially close to him—and thus her son, Prince Gyeyang, was also closely tied to Suyang.

So the blade aimed at tribute corruption would inevitably point toward the Yun and Han families—and ultimately toward Grand Prince Suyang himself.

"I believe tribute, which is imposed per household, is the primary reason people abandon their homes and become wanderers under the oppression of proxy payments. I wish to establish a system to replace tribute."

Lee Hyang's reasoning was just and difficult even for Sejong to refute.

"Ha…"

With a sigh, Sejong held his head.

But the deliberation of Joseon's greatest king did not last long.

"Draft a reform plan with Jeong Inji and Kim Jongseo. Inji is skilled with numbers and led the land tax reform—he will be capable of designing a new system. However, though brilliant, he is lazy and lacks attention to execution. Jongseo, on the other hand, combines sharp intellect with unwavering persistence and will see things through."

Sejong entrusted him with two of his most valued ministers.

Overwhelmed, Lee Hyang responded,

"Yes, Father. I will prepare thoroughly so that it may be implemented within five years."

"When reforming something tied to great interests, you must prepare everything perfectly and then act swiftly. Do not give your enemies time to retaliate. Warn Inji firmly—if he lets anything slip, he will pay for it with his life."

Sejong gave no such warning about Kim Jongseo, whose steadfastness needed no question.

"Yes, Father. To secure the various goods obtained through tribute without disruption, commerce must develop to a certain degree. If goods circulate abundantly, your long-held goal of currency circulation may also succeed."

At the mention of currency, Sejong's expression darkened.

From his father Taejong's reign to his own, they had repeatedly attempted to replace rice and cloth—the de facto currency—with paper money or coins, yet all efforts had failed miserably.

"Very well. If you intend to do this, I will support you with all my strength. But promise me one thing."

"…What is it?"

Normally, Lee Hyang would have answered without hesitation. But this time, he asked carefully.

Sejong looked at his son, then suddenly swallowed something like rising tears and cried out in a strained voice.

"Do not kill them. Do not kill my sons. Do not stain your hands with your brothers' blood, Hyang!"

"Father!"

"It will be difficult. Very difficult. In the royal family, sparing lives is a thousand, ten thousand times harder than taking them—I know this better than anyone! But, Hyang… I succeeded, did I not? So you must succeed as well!"

But your brothers were either irredeemable libertines or monks withdrawn from worldly affairs. My brothers are different—Suyang is as capable as he is ambitious, and Anpyeong draws scholars like a magnet!

The words he wanted to shout remained unspoken. Instead, Lee Hyang bowed his head deeply.

"Father…"

"You saw it yourself. Before her father died so cruelly, how bright and warm your mother was like sunlight. After that… she lived only as a shell, fulfilling her roles as mother and queen—but was her heart truly in it?"

"Father…"

Tears now filled Lee Hyang's voice.

Just as Sejong had witnessed the tragedy of his own mother, Queen Wongyeong, Lee Hyang had witnessed the tragedy of his mother, Queen Soheon.

He had seen her collapse in tears, begging for her father's life.

And afterward, how she sometimes looked at her children—bearing the surname Yi—as if they were strangers.

Even when Sejong took new concubines and fathered many sons, she treated them all with equal kindness. Yet it seemed less like virtue and more like resignation—something within her had broken.

"If she must lose her children as well, how could she go on living? So, Hyang! Promise me. Promise me you will not kill them!"

"I will not kill them, Father."

"Yes… that is how it must be."

Yet even as they made that promise, both knew the truth:

No matter how much one wished to avoid it, if the other side harbored treason first, there would be no choice.

Such was the fate the royal family paid for holding the highest power in the world.

After Lee Hyang withdrew, Sejong remained in silence for a long time.

Then he summoned Jeon Gyun, a palace eunuch.

"Find out exactly who the Crown Prince spoke with last night before requesting a private audience—and what was discussed."

Though he had his suspicions, Sejong wanted certainty.

The very next day, the royal grandson Hongwi moved into the Seoon-dol chamber of Jaseondang, the Crown Prince's residence in the Eastern Palace.

"I sent her all dressed up so carefully, yet instead of receiving favor, she ends up taking the royal grandson away from me?"

Lady Yang frowned deeply in displeasure.

But after Yoonseo persuaded her that it would be better for Hongwi's future to remain by the Crown Prince's side, she eventually agreed.

However, true to her mastery of politics, Lady Yang added one condition.

"Once you go there, the Crown Prince's concubines—especially Hong Seung-hwi—will be extremely territorial. They spend their nights alone, so they'll likely vent their frustrations on you. If things become difficult, come to me. I will report it to Her Majesty the Queen and mediate. In return, you must speak well of my sons to His Highness."

"Yes, Your Ladyship. I will visit you soon with something worthwhile."

Even as Yoonseo repeatedly apologized, Lady Yang clicked her tongue, lamenting that despite wearing a perfume pouch worth as much as a decent house, she had failed to win over the Crown Prince.

Then, her eyes gleaming with stubborn determination, she advised Yoonseo to linger around the Crown Prince's residence every night now that she would be staying in the Eastern Palace.

"In love between men and women, it's like getting soaked in a drizzle without noticing. Every time His Majesty came to visit the Crown Prince when he was ill, do you know how often I lingered nearby wearing the court lady attire I gave you?"

Unable to let go of her lingering hopes until the very end, Lady Yang sent Yoonseo and Hongwi off to the Eastern Palace with a regretful expression.

Lady Yang's concerns about Hong Seung-hwi proved quite accurate.

When Eun Naegwan and Court Lady Park arrived at the Eastern Palace with the royal grandson at the forefront, five Seung-hwi-ranked concubines and two palace-born concubines were already lined up in splendid attire in the courtyard of Jaseondang.

All bowed deeply, and the most elaborately dressed among them stepped forward to greet them.

"Royal Grandson, you have arrived."

It was Hong Seung-hwi.

Even in actual history, Hong Seung-hwi was recorded as being treated like a queen—referred to as Naegung—during King Munjong's reign. Her beauty was striking even by modern standards.

Lee Hyang seemed to prefer women with slightly upturned, cat-like eyes, but perhaps that very sharpness made her appear somewhat sly to elders—explaining why she was never formally installed as Crown Princess.

Still… our Crown Prince has quite a number of concubines. Seven, no less.

Setting Hongwi down, Yoonseo glanced over each of the seven women, all remarkably beautiful.

Five were selected concubines from noble families with the Seung-hwi rank, and two were palace women who had received royal favor but remained at the sixth-rank sukchik status.

With so many concubines, why had Lee Hyang not had many children?

Either children were not being conceived, or they were dying young—both possibilities felt strange.

Even accounting for high infant mortality in medieval times, King Sejong had fathered eighteen sons and four daughters, most of whom survived to adulthood.

Could it be…?

Was it her doing?

As Yoonseo cast a suspicious glance toward Hong Seung-hwi—

Hong Seung-hwi, dressed in a brilliantly patterned light-green dangui with a pale purple skirt beneath, shot Yoonseo a sharp, piercing look in return.

In truth, Hong Seung-hwi was in a very foul mood.

It had been two years since Crown Princess Kwon's death, and she had been steadily nurturing the ambition of becoming the next Crown Princess and residing in the Seoon-dol chamber of Jaseondang with His Highness.

Yet suddenly, the royal grandson had taken over that very room.

And that girl—she even entered Bihyeongak last night smelling strongly of musk.

Though she hadn't received royal favor, rumors were already widespread that she had dismissed the attending eunuch and spent the night in private conversation with the Crown Prince.

That irritated Hong Seung-hwi even more.

If it had just been a brief physical encounter, there were plenty of women—he would tire of her easily.

But conversation?

With a man who barely spoke even when visiting a concubine's chamber and simply did what was necessary before leaving?

She wanted to tear out that lush hair of hers, but without a proper excuse, she instead decided to vent her frustration by lightly targeting the royal grandson—whom Lady Gwon seemed willing to risk her life to protect.

"Our Geuma has been eagerly waiting for you, Your Highness."

Holding a young girl's hand, Hong Seung-hwi gently pushed her forward.

The child hesitated, then stepped forward and smiled shyly at Hongwi.

"Oppa."

She was Hong Seung-hwi's daughter, a hyeonju, the same age as Hongwi.

"Geuma, wanna see a toy? My nanny made it for me!"

Hongwi said proudly, looking up at Yoonseo.

At that moment, all the concubines' gazes turned sharply toward her.

So you're the one who spent that long night talking with His Highness.

They had not even shared words with him—let alone anything more.

Their resentment toward the indifferent Crown Prince instantly turned into jealousy and hostility toward Lady Gwon.

Yoonseo, who had no intention whatsoever of getting involved with Lee Hyang, found the situation utterly unfair.

"Lady Gwon serves during the day shift, does she not? Then who handles the night shift?"

Hong Seung-hwi asked.

At first glance, it sounded like a casual question.

But the intent behind it—dark and malicious—became unmistakably clear in what followed.