Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Kwon Ram and Han Myeonghoe (2)
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“The king must act like a king, the subject like a subject, the father like a father, and the child like a child. But do you truly believe that your actions were befitting of a father?”
Corrupted Confucianism—no, to be more precise, the version that got twisted even worse after crossing over to Japan—teaches that parents can torment and abuse their children as much as they please, and the kids still have to show absolute filial piety.
Even Mencius, Confucius's successor, said something like, “If a king doesn't act like a king, he's not human—he's a vermin, a brigand. You can kill him.”
How much worse is it when a so-called father gets drunk, beats his lawful wife, mistreats her, and even lays hands on his own children? Does that even make sense?
That bastard deserves to be dipped in shit three times, roasted, and killed—and that still wouldn't be enough.
“Do you know what expressions the children had on their faces when they fled your home?”
“How would I know? I was drunk out of my mind at the time.”
“They looked like children running for their lives from a murderer chasing them with a sword. I know it might be presumptuous of me to meddle in your family affairs, but when I saw them desperate to escape just to stay alive, I couldn't simply look the other way.”
There was this civil servant who helped our family.
The district mayor chewed him out, begging him to stop meddling and actually do his job, asking if he really had no ambition to get promoted.
No matter how much they scolded him, he kept helping the socially weak—like me—in every way he could within the bounds of the law.
Later, when I looked into his background after he was appointed as an administrative officer, I found out that if he'd just been a bit less nosy and better at office politics, he could've easily risen to senior secretary level.
But he kept helping people left and right, pissed off his superiors, and retired as a grade 6 official.
Truth be told, I'm a selfish guy at heart, but the reason I go around helping others like this...
It's because I owe him a real debt, and I want to be like him.
Actually, the reason I became a government official was because I wanted to be a civil servant just like him.
That's why I couldn't just leave Kwon Ram and his sister alone.
He's not here in Joseon watching over me, of course, but I still want to be someone he wouldn't be ashamed of.
“So you're saying I tried to kill my children. Is that what you're claiming right now?”
“They say harsh laws and tax collection are more terrifying to the people than tigers. A drunken father wielding violence is an even scarier existence to his children.”
There's one ironic thing.
Children's DNA has survival instincts hardwired into it.
That's why, when kids face a survival threat, they strive to win their parents' love.
Even abusive parents instinctively feel affection toward their young children on a biological level, and the kids do everything they can to earn that love.
No matter how hard they try, though, the parents keep abusing them.
That civil servant uncle told me this too.
In child abuse trials, when they ask the kid about the abuse...
The child keeps defending the parent, saying, “Daddy's not a bad person; he only does it sometimes when he drinks.”
For a child to overcome such a powerful survival instinct and the deep desire to be loved by their parents—to the point of fleeing from them?
How badly must that child have been abused?
Rip the bastard to shreds and it still wouldn't be enough.
“I hesitate to judge the conduct of a man who is the son of Duke Muncheong of Gukgongsin Kwon Geun and who even served as an observer. But do you truly love your children?”
“What parent in this world doesn't love their children? Are you calling me some trash who doesn't love his own kids, Kim Saiin?”
“Just imagining my child running out into the night fills me with despair. I'm worried they'll fall prey to some villainous thugs.”
People like Kwon Je can't empathize with others' emotions—they're psychopaths.
Telling such a person to love and cherish their child as a parent is pointless; they won't get it.
They lack the innate capacity for empathy from birth. How can you teach them something they can't even comprehend?
“If I'm worrying myself sick like that and then hear that someone has protected my child... I'd collapse in relief right then and there. Even if that protector was the lowliest slave, I'd bow in gratitude and honor them as a lifelong benefactor. Because they saved my child, more precious than my own life. Isn't that the heart a father should have?”
“......”
Psychopaths like Kwon Je lack empathy, but they can still distinguish right from wrong.
That's why kids diagnosed with psychopathic traits in their youth judge all of society's issues based on good and evil.
They go further, adapting to society by categorizing others' feelings through the lens of 'good' and 'evil,' even if they can't feel emotions themselves.
So even that beast in human skin should realize now, with me explaining it in terms of 'good and evil,' just how much nonsense he was spouting.
“Impeach me if you must, condemn me if you will. But no one else will sympathize with your words.”
Kwon Je clicked his tongue sharply at my words.
“My words were too harsh. I apologize. Since you protected my children, I'll send a proper token of gratitude soon. Now, let me take Ram and Young-i.”
“The children were badly injured and are being treated by a physician. He said they need at least a week of care at my home.”
Police who respond to child abuse reports often make a common mistake.
If the child and parent at the scene deny it's abuse, they just withdraw on the spot.
That's wrong because what parent would admit, “Yes, I'm abusing my child”?
And how could a child bravely report their own parent as an abuser?
A parent shamed and betrayed by their own child might burn with revenge and inflict even worse violence.
I can't guarantee what Kwon Je might do if I hand the kids back now.
It could even lead to a fatal accident (not that Kwon Je intends it).
“Please.”
“And I've heard rumors that things aren't well between you and your wife.”
Even in Korea, divorce isn't easy, but in Joseon, for a yangban family, it requires the king's permission.
You couldn't just do it on a whim.
The process involves review by the Office of Royal Decrees, naturally.
In an era with little entertainment like Joseon, that becomes an unbearable dopamine rush.
Of course, wild rumors spread like crazy.
And yet, that bastard succeeded in divorcing his wife in the original history.
All so he could live happily ever after with his gisaeng concubine.
No matter how you slice it, he's irredeemable trash by Joseon standards.
“How does Kim Saiin know our family affairs so well?”
“The rumors are widespread. And...”
I leaned in close to his ear and whispered so only we two could hear.
“I'll help you with the divorce.”
A smile crept across Kwon Je's face at my words.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, I'll assist you.”
When a spouse is violently temperamental, spends money recklessly beyond their means, or cheats as casually as eating, people start thinking about divorce.
But with children involved, many endure constant fights and hold on.
They think their divorce would harm the kids' development.
I get that sentiment, but in the long run, it might actually be worse for the children.
Living in a household on the brink of divorce is like being thrown into a war zone in terms of stress.
Better to rip off the band-aid with divorce than subject them to ongoing torment.
One big pain is better than constant suffering.
Of course, the best is for everyone to stay together happily, but if not, choosing the lesser evil is wiser.
To save Kwon Ram, his sister, and the innocent lawful wife, this is the best option.
“Then I'll take my leave.”
Kwon Je said this, humming a tune as he left the house.
As soon as he was gone, I called for Gap-seok.
“Gap-seok, spread a ton of salt at the front gate. And buy some talismans to ward off evil spirits and stick them up.”
Thinking about that human trash coming and going makes me want to hunt down every talisman there is.
Once Gap-seok spreads the salt and puts up the talismans, my mind will feel a bit more at ease.
Then I went to find Kwon Ram.
“Your father won't come looking for you here for at least a week.”
“Thank you, my lord. But are you really okay...”
I gave him a gentle flick on the forehead that wouldn't hurt.
“If you're a kid, act like one and throw a tantrum at an adult—it's fine.”
For Kwon Ram's healthy personality development, two things are essential.
One is warm love from an adult filling the father's role.
The other is overcoming his father trauma.
And the best way to overcome trauma is...
Revenge.
“Let me make you a proposal.”
“What kind of proposal, my lord?”
“Nothing bad.”
You think I'd let that child abuser get away scot-free?
“Do you want me to send your father to the Goryeo border?”
Kwon Ram's eyes wavered.