Delivering the Royal Edict
Ah, this was the gyoji. The day had finally come. With the sword bestowed by King Sejong at my waist, dressed in clothes and riding a horse bought in Hanyang with the Crown Prince's money, I hit the road. The only things tying me to Kim Jin-sa were my own sorry hide and the packhorse trailing behind.
Clop clop clop...
"…!"
Chorong shuddered with every step. No matter how many deep breaths I took to steady my nerves or how tight I gripped the reins, it was all for naught. A perfectly natural reaction. After all, I was heading to Kim Jin-sa's place, using a royal decree as cover to announce my marriage to Eori.
Objectively speaking, Kim Jin-sa wasn't such a bad father. Among yangban with concubines, he ranked pretty high. He hadn't abandoned my mother even after she bore him a child at just fourteen, he'd set her up in a proper house, and he'd even given her a sewing machine and work to keep her fed. The problems were that she'd gotten pregnant with me at fourteen, and the house he'd "set her up in" was smack in the middle of Hwacheok Village. Lucky for us, the villagers weren't as vicious as the rumors made them out to be. Otherwise, Mom and I might've vanished without a trace.
The sewing machine and work? Just excuses to visit her.
"Haaa... whoooo...!"
I took yet another deep breath, steadying myself. Kim Jin-sa wasn't evil, but to me, he was a two-faced bastard. Until I made a name for myself, he'd ignored my wounds—even though he knew damn well they'd come from his second son. But once I started gaining fame, his attitude shifted. It took a royal decree for him to hug me for the first time. Then, after a month without seeing his face, my hatred diluted into pity. His eldest was shacked up with his old man's concubine, ignoring marriage prospects to live alone. The second son flunked the academy entrance exams every time but still bummed around town. I was the family's only hope—the bastard son of a lowly concubine, the shining star of the household.
That might've been why he got so worked up when I said I was marrying Eori.
Anyway, in the Kim household of Pyeongan, the new head was me, not Kim Jin-sa. And now I was off to Yangban-chon to make it official.
"Oh my, good day to you."
"Fine morning, sir!"
Folks bowed as I rode past. I nodded back politely.
"Yes, hello. Good morning. Nice weather today, huh?"
The villagers looked up in surprise at my voice, then beamed with recognition—not as Kim Jin-sa's bastard, but as Kim Si-jin, the Idle Captain trusted by the king.
"Aigoo! Captain Hanryang! When did you get back?!"
"You should've sent word! We'd have come to greet you!"
"Heard the rumors! They gave you a tiled house in Hanyang!"
"Eh, well, it wasn't for me. It was for Eori. It's in her name. Gotta run now—things to do."
I chatted briefly with the welcoming crowd before heading on to Yangban-chon.
"Hm?"
Of course, not everyone was thrilled to see me.
"Hey! You little shit! How dare a bastard like you ride a horse around here?!"
The voice sounded like some wise old elder, but it was just Kim Hui-un, his patchy mustache barely sprouted, reeking of booze since dawn. Academy exams were right around the corner, and the fool was already sloshed, brimming with misplaced confidence.
"Hey! Good day, little master!"
"Get off that horse right now!"
I'd greeted him with a smile, but his face stayed flushed red. Booze, obviously.
"Sorry, little master. What a pickle. I've got urgent business—gotta head out."
Still mounted, I pulled a remorseful pout.
"What business could a wretch like you have? Where do you think you're going? Get down now, you cur!"
Not realizing it was bait, he stormed over in a rage. I stayed put even as he got right up in my face.
"Can't do that, little master. I'm here on state business today."
"What?! Ha!"
His flushed face twisted, then he burst into mocking laughter. He took a swig from his gourd and continued.
"You, an Idle Captain, on state business? What, did a bandit pop up somewhere? Or did the magistrate order you to round up troops?"
"No. The one who commanded me was the king himself."
"Puhahaha! Hanyang must've filled your head with hot air! You think you're some official sent down by royal decree?"
Hanryang Gapsa was an official rank, and I'd come down with a decree, so...
"Eh, something like that?"
Not wrong.
"You pathetic fool...!"
He sneered at me, then scowled.
"Think a little fame makes you a star? No! You're just a spark—flaring up briefly before fizzling out! How dare a bastard like you aim for the heavens?!"
"Yep, that's me. Time for this spark to fizzle out."
"Hey! You insolent pup! I wasn't done talking! And I told you to dismount!"
"Aish, fine. I'll get down."
Riding with him might be a pain, but at least the trip wouldn't be boring. I dismounted and chatted with the brat as we walked.
"Little master, been studying? Exams are soon, right?"
"Shut your mouth!"
Whack!
I'd just asked, and he smacked the back of my head. He took another sip and grumbled.
"Worry about yourself! I've taken the civil exams three times—I'm basically an expert. You? Too busy traipsing to Hanyang to study. Worry about you! Three attempts, three fails. But I know what's on this exam."
"Heh heh! Should've prepped for the military exams instead! Even a punk like you can do it!"
"Sure thing. Military exam's a breeze. Catch a tiger, suppress some bandits, done."
"If you'd been there, I'd have taken on a hundred barbarians alone!"
"Why not try the military exam this time instead of civil service?"
"Ha! Brilliant idea! I'll go for the military exam this year!"
Crazy bastard. Exams were less than a month away, civil or military.
Who knew walking and bantering with Kim Hui-un would be this fun? Sure, I took a few smacks to the head and back, but still. Before I knew it, we were at Kim Jin-sa's gate. I steeled my shaking resolve before the firmly shut doors.
Then, almost in unison, Kim Hui-un and I bellowed.
"Open up!"
"This is a royal decree!"
"Open... huh?"
Drunk and bleary-eyed, he stared at me.
"You. What'd you just say?"
"Royal decree."
"Royal decree?"
"Yeah. Royal decree."
I nodded at the dazed fool and shouted again.
"Royal decree! Scholar-official Kim Hak-jin, come out and receive it!"
"You mad bastard! Puhahaha! You've finally lost it!"
It was real.
"Royal decree! Idle Captain Kim Si-jin brings the gyoji to Scholar-official Kim Hak-jin!"
I rummaged in my saddlebag, cringing at the archaic phrasing. As I pulled out the decree's case, the gate flew open and Kim Jin-sa charged out.
"Kim Si-jin! So you came! I've been waiting to tear you apart! Think your marriage whims will fly?!"
Rumors of me taking Eori to Hanyang had spread; the old man, who'd been riding high on wedding fantasies, was furious.
"Royal decree!"
I ignored him, pulling the scroll from its case.
"Scholar-official Kim Hak-jin, prostrate yourself and receive the royal decree!"
"You punk! What the—?!"
He raised a hand to strike, then frowned. His eyes locked on the silk scroll in my grip.
"Wh-what is that?"
"Ah, this? It's called a gyoji. A document bearing the king's command."
"Is... is it really a royal decree?"
"Yep. So prostrate yourself already."
"Ah, a-ai... Aigoo! Your Highness! We are eternally grateful!"
True to his Neo-Confucian roots, he dropped to the ground the instant he realized what it was.
"F-Father? What're you doing?"
"What are you doing?! Prostrate yourself now!"
"Ah, no...!"
Kim Hui-un glanced between us, then bowed four times to the decree in my hands, following his old man's lead.
Ha, this was it. This was why I'd clawed my way up. Sure, they were bowing to the decree, not me, but an indescribable thrill filled my chest. My heart swelled till I could barely breathe.
"It is commanded! Thus decreed to Scholar-official Kim Hak-jin!"
I waited for father and son to finish their bows, then unrolled the scroll and proclaimed.
"Idle Captain Kim Si-jin is loyal and righteous! Skilled in arms and devoted to state affairs! His future is full of promise!"
Kim Jin-sa's face still beamed with pride, figuring the king was praising his parenting.
"The daughter of the Kim clan of Gimhae, Eori, is refined in demeanor and pure of heart! Their union accords with propriety and shall serve as an example to the people! Cease all private hesitation!"
Of course not.
"Grant the marriage forthwith!"
"?!"
"This is my personal command as king! Obey without fail!"
His face paled at Eori's name, then flushed crimson at the marriage order. Fury incarnate, but I played dumb and offered senior advice.
"Scholar sir? Now say, 'We are eternally grateful, Your Highness.'"
"Kh...!"
"'Eternally grateful'—just two phrases."
"Y-Your... H-Highness... et-eter... nally graaateful...!"
"Perfect! Keep this gyoji as a family heirloom!"
No cameras in this era—what a tragedy. I could've savored Kim Jin-sa's near-explosion forever.