Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Secret Royal Inspector Kim Dae-bung (13)
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King Taejong was a father who loved his children more than anyone else.
That was why, even when his eldest son, Grand Prince Yangnyeong, indulged in all sorts of outrageous behavior, he protected and shielded him to the end.
Because King Taejong was so devoted to his children, he never took Kim Dae-bung's words lightly.
"Physician Kim Ho-il must answer every question I ask without a single shred of falsehood."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Kim Ho-il, the most skilled physician among the royal physicians of the Inner Medical Bureau, trembled at King Taejong's words.
No, it would be stranger if anyone didn't feel fear in this situation.
King Taejong was dressed in his black gonryongpo robe, and on the low desk right in front of him lay an iron mace.
"Report in detail on His Majesty's current health."
"Your Highness, His Majesty is somewhat corpulent, but it does not greatly hinder his movements. He works a great deal, but he gets at least the minimum sleep and eats sufficiently... His condition merely requires some attention, not enough to worry Former King like Your Highness."
"Hmm, is that so."
Having heard this much, King Taejong immediately reached for the iron mace.
Seeing this, cold sweat poured from Kim Ho-il's body like rain.
He felt as if his head would be smashed at any moment.
"If you answer honestly, I will grant you great rewards and hold you blameless for any fault. But if you utter even the slightest lie, I will charge you with the crime of deceiving your sovereign and punish you severely."
"Yes, Former King Your Highness."
"I ask again. What is His Majesty's health like?"
"As a physician, I could not report what I was not certain of... but His Majesty's royal body is not in a truly robust state."
"Be specific."
Kim Ho-il steadied his breath and spoke cautiously.
"His Majesty favors fatty meats and consumes large amounts at his meals. This has already led to significant fat accumulation in his body, and if left unchecked for long, there is a high risk of serious illness like xiaoke appearing."
"Xiaoke."
"Yes. However, mere corpulence does not guarantee xiaoke; it merely increases the likelihood. I could not report it with certainty."
Being a royal physician was a life-risking profession.
Of course, in Joseon, they didn't execute physicians for failing to cure a king's grave illness.
At most, they would send them away on exile under the pretext of punishment, like a vacation.
However, a misdiagnosis that killed the king could lead to execution, and in the worst cases, charges of treason resulting in death.
Moreover, predicting a serious illness for the king or royalty when they weren't even sick could result in decapitation for speaking out of turn.
"Please execute me, Former King Your Highness."
King Taejong had anticipated this situation to some degree, but he was still angry at the physician for not properly reporting to him and King Sejong. Still, he could understand his position.
So, he decided to show mercy.
"... Your crime warrants death, but I shall specially grant you a chance to atone through meritorious service. What do you suggest?"
"His Majesty has some excess fat, but he is still young. Moderating his diet and engaging in more physical activity until his body returns to normal should suffice."
"What about hunting?"
"Hunting involves riding horseback, using the lower body extensively, and moving the whole body, so it would be excellent exercise for His Majesty with his severe fat accumulation."
A smile spread across King Taejong's face.
Until now, he had to argue with vague reasoning that His Majesty's growing corpulence was worrisome, so hunting trips had been few and far between...
Now that the treasury was ample,
he could claim it was a national policy necessitated for His Majesty's well-being... Wouldn't monthly hunts—even every half month—be possible?
"What do you think of His Majesty staying up late every night reviewing documents?"
"His devotion to personally reviewing affairs until late at night is truly admirable, but as a physician, I believe it is not good for His Majesty's health. A person needs at least three sichin—six hours—or three and a half sichin—seven hours—of sleep daily to maintain health. Yet His Majesty sleeps less than two and a half sichin—five hours—a day, which will strain his body."
King Sejong took after King Taejong and greatly indulged in women.
In other words, five hours on paper meant actual sleep of about three hours a day.
"As a father, I cannot just watch my child ruin his health through overwork. I have been too complacent. This must be corrected."
King Taejong was in a good mood.
Now he had a legitimate reason to tend to his son's health while taking his grandchildren on hunts every half month.
Growing older, he didn't feel as spry as before, and his body felt sluggish, but using King Sejong as an excuse, he could exercise daily...
How wonderful was this?
'Truly, Kim Dae-bung is a loyal retainer for the ages.'
Other officials knew of King Sejong's condition but feared the iron mace flattening their heads and stayed silent, whereas he had spoken up to prevent future calamity.
There was no such minister in the world.
"It's just about time for the officials to leave for the day."
King Taejong immediately went to where King Sejong was reviewing his work.
His face was full of smiles.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In Sajongjeon Hall, where King Sejong was working overtime to devise policies for the people as usual, an unexpected visitor arrived.
"Your Majesty."
"Father, what brings you here at this hour?"
"I came to climb Bukaksan with you."
King Sejong flinched at the mention of Bukaksan.
The thought of all the hardships of climbing a mountain was utterly dreadful.
His father, King Taejong, would laugh heartily all the way to the summit, but his corpulent body would suffer immensely.
Thus, King Sejong submitted a memorial of resignation, and like future Prime Minister Hwang Hui who failed to resign this time, his face paled.
But he had his all-purpose shield...
"This subject must spread the Bangwon Law more widely and swiftly establish markets nationwide. I am exceedingly busy devising policies for the people."
The old King Taejong would have turned away, saying it couldn't be helped.
But now was different.
He had the life-risking straight talk from the loyal retainer for the ages (prospective) Kim Dae-bung, backed by the physician's confirmation that it was spot on.
"Your Majesty, Kim Dae-bung, who returned to Hanyang yesterday, remonstrated with me. He said Your Majesty's body is so corpulent that if it continues, you risk severe harm from xiaoke in the future. I checked with Physician Kim Ho-il, and there was not a single flaw in his words."
If King Taejong had established royal authority with the iron mace, King Sejong defended it through debates grounded in vast knowledge.
True to being Joseon's greatest scholar, he tried to evade the ordeal of mountain climbing with legitimate reasoning...
But King Sejong could find no counter to his father's words.
'No, this can't happen. I like sitting and reading documents for work.'
As King Sejong panicked, King Taejong began unleashing the most powerful ultimate move from the Confucian worldview.
"If xiaoke develops, not only will fatigue accumulate, but eventually tumors may form in the brain, and even blindness is possible."
If an ordinary physician said this, King Sejong would compromise by cutting back on meat dishes for a few days.
But Joseon was a nation where if a child took a flogging in place of sinful parents, the whole village praised it as filial piety.
Thus, King Sejong could no longer resist King Taejong, who pressured him with righteous principles and filial duty.
King Taejong, armed with righteous principles, was King Sejong's natural predator.
"In the worst case, you could die young."
If anyone else said this, the moment they mentioned the king's possible death, it would be treason, and calls to exterminate their clan would follow immediately.
But since the speaker was King Taejong, the message could only be interpreted differently.
"I do not wish to suffer the pain of losing a child. From now on, I shall steel my resolve, make Your Majesty move vigorously, and ensure balanced meals. This is what a father must do to protect his son."
King Sejong was moved by his father's denial yet felt his vision go white.
From now on, he would be dragged by King Taejong, armed with perfect justification, into intense exercise.
"Henceforth, Your Majesty shall climb Bukaksan with me every day when the officials depart, to build lower body strength."
"Bukaksan, you say?"
"... That much is obviously necessary, isn't it? Even I, at seventy, can climb it with ease. And now that taxes are ample and budget worries are gone, let us go hunting every half month to temper your royal body."
As soon as he finished speaking, the court ladies and eunuchs attending King Sejong brought clothes for changing.
They had already agreed with King Taejong's words.
Things proceeded without a hitch, and King Taejong took only a small guard escort and ascended Bukaksan with King Sejong.
"... Father! It's only been two gak—thirty minutes—since we started the hike, and you're already tired? Hurry up!"
King Sejong was truly walking with all his might. Breathing was hard, and his whole body was drenched in sweat.
He wanted to sit or lie down on the ground right away.
'I want to go back to the palace and review documents.'
'I want to go home...'
But King Taejong, for whom hunting was a hobby, walked as if it were nothing.
"My knees hurt so much I can barely walk..."
At those words, the physician was summoned. Physician Kim Ho-il examined King Sejong's knees this way and that, then nodded.
It was a sign there was no problem.
That day, King Sejong completed the Bukaksan climb over one sichin—two hours. Half of it was spent resting rather than walking.
Naturally, he hadn't reached the summit, only the midway point up the slope.
"... Father, please spare me..."
"My son, devoting yourself to documents is good, but only a healthy body can better care for the people. So tomorrow, and the day after, we must climb the mountain and move. Understand?"
The next day, King Sejong suffered full-body muscle pain.
However, his pained body gradually grew stronger.