Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: King Sejong the Great's Trap (5)
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Married friends all said the same thing with one voice.
"When your wedding is a month away, there are so many things to do compared to the absolutely insufficient time, so even 30 days feel like 30 seconds."
I could feel it in my bones why they said that while properly preparing for this wedding myself.
A single day truly felt like one second, leaving my mind utterly blank as time flew by.
When I had taken Winter as a concubine, my mom and dad had simply gathered all the villagers, slaughtered a cow, threw a rowdy banquet, and called it done.
But for an official wedding, following the Six Rites, we first received Winter's eight characters for fortune-telling and confirmed our compatibility. Then, with the extremely generous betrothal gifts provided by King Taejong, we sent them to Kim Man-deok's house...
After sending the betrothal gifts, we wrote a letter of thanks to Their Highnesses with utmost sincerity, stating something like, "From now on, I will voluntarily enlist to serve Joseon Court forever."
Me voluntarily enlisting with my own hand? What the hell was this? I'm not some trainee being dragged to Nonsan or anything.
"Son-in-law."
"Father-in-law."
Kim Man-deok examined my complexion and asked,
"Are you perhaps feeling ill on this auspicious day? That won't do..."
"How could that be? I'm just lost in thought, pondering as a subject how I can ever repay His Highness's grace."
My beautiful plan to resign at an opportune moment and return to my hometown Yanggu with Winter to live comfortably had gone up in smoke.
I hadn't expected the wicked King Sejong to slyly take Winter hostage.
Even just elevating my concubine Winter to proper wife would make it hard for me to escape, but on top of that, the royal family had sent betrothal gifts for the wedding.
If I submitted a resignation petition, King Sejong would surely reject it over and over, stewing on this like bone broth.
"My son-in-law is truly a loyal subject. Even in the Ministry of Finance, many see you as the glory of the East Sea. I agree; there's not a word of exaggeration there. Haha."
"Your praise is too much."
"You've done better than anyone could compare up to now. Keep it up like this, and you'll fully repay His Highness's grace. Now, then... hurry and submit that petition to come to the Ministry of Finance—no, with me..."
"I'm not going."
After this wedding, Kim Man-deok would be dragged off to Jeongui County on Jeju Island.
From what I'd heard, it was a legitimate provincial post that counted toward his career, and since His Highness was personally overseeing the project there, it was an excellent assignment for advancement...
But I'd already passed through almost all the necessary posts for promotion to a full-rank official, and I had no intention of rushing my career anyway. Why would I go there?
I planned to clock in and out on time in Hanyang, living sweetly with Winter.
"How am I supposed to handle those Japanese bastards alone without you..."
"The Lord of Tsushima admires me deeply in his heart, so the Japanese of Tsushima won't dare mistreat you, Father-in-law."
The Lord of Tsushima was terribly afraid of me.
Because I'd told him, "Joseon can replace the Lord of Tsushima anytime."
So, just letting the Japanese know he was my father-in-law would keep them from treating Kim Man-deok roughly.
And if some fool crossed the line? I'd make a trip to Jeongui County once.
"Father-in-law, then I'll go mingle and greet the guests who came for my wedding."
In Korea, it's common for the groom to go to the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony to take photos, but in Joseon weddings, propriety dictates that the groom doesn't see the bride before the main rites begin.
So, instead of seeking out the bride, it was right for me to go around greeting the elders who had come.
I shook off my father-in-law, who was scheming wickedly to drag the new groom to Jeongui County, and stepped outside.
There, led by Prime Minister Hwang Hui, the Six Ministers stood in a line, surrounding my father who had come up from Yanggu County and offering their congratulations.
Thanks to King Sejong sending betrothal gifts so lavishly that all of Hanyang buzzed with rumors...
My parents had come all the way to Hanyang in joyful spirits, deeply grateful for the royal grace.
Well, it was just a day's boat ride, so not too arduous or inconvenient.
"Kim Jeong-rang is truly a filial son. Passing the exam at top place at such a young age is impressive enough, but how well he handles every task entrusted to him... On behalf of all the ministers here, I thank and envy you today for raising such an outstanding son to serve the court. Father, thank you. And I'm jealous."
"I wondered where Kim Jeong-rang got the courage to submit that branch office petition blocking the currency before, but as expected, like father, like son..."
Father signaled with his eyes for me to save him.
Mother had apparently fled beforehand, using the excuse of helping the bride get ready.
To rescue Father, I headed toward the cluster of ministers, where Hwang Hui congratulated me on everyone's behalf.
"Our Kim Jeong-rang has finally become a true adult in every sense."
"Thank you, my lord."
"As the saying goes, there are two ways a child repays their parents: achieving fame and success, and bearing grandchildren to continue the family line. Bearing grandsons is up to you, but for fame and success, I'll lend you my strength... Come to the State Council."
At that, the Minister of Finance stepped forward angrily.
"For an ordinary official, maybe, but someone like Kim Jeong-rang is a pearl in the treasury—his talents are vital wherever he goes. In these times, the most pressing issue is discussing the nationwide distribution of granaries in the Ministry of Finance..."
"What nonsense? You know full well that developing new weapons in the Ministry of Defense is more urgent and critical. Not every word is worth saying; choose them carefully."
"Kim Jeong-rang has exceptional talent for handling the Japanese, so he should come to the Ministry of Rites rather than elsewhere. Minister Jo, why try to monopolize his skills in Defense?"
As the ministers began fighting in earnest, Father whispered in my ear,
"Dae-bung, my son, it's no empty words that you're making a name for yourself. I'm truly glad that such high officials recognize and value you."
"......Father, I'd rather be hounded by women and cause a scandal."
Women fighting over me is cute if the heat isn't too high, but old men nearing or past sixty fighting a 'catfight' over me is horrifying just to watch.
What good is a situation where 'the ministers are obsessed with me'? It just means more work piling up.
As I went around greeting the guests, someone I never expected appeared.
"Prince Hyoryeong has arrived."
A king like Sejong or Taejong couldn't attend a subject's wedding.
So, to properly leash me, they'd sharpened the blade to a razor's edge.
Proof: none other than Prince Hyoryeong—one of the top in Joseon royal succession (Grand Prince Yangnyeong being a wastrel exception)—had come in person.
Prince Hyoryeong's aura was... how to put it, always something else.
His face, the presence emanating from him—it made you think of Buddha.
Or like beholding a living Buddha statue.
If Queen Wonkyeong hadn't thrown a fit about not handing her son to Buddha, he might have truly become a monk...
I could totally see it.
"Where is Kim Jeong-rang?"
"Here, Your Highness."
"Their Highnesses the Supreme King and the King sent me to convey their congratulations on your wedding. My sincere felicitations."
"Thank you."
"Buddha said it takes 8,000 kalpas for a couple's bond to form. Meeting as husband and wife is that rare. Yet Kim Jeong-rang and his wife (term for a 5th-rank official's spouse) deeply love each other, so their bond must be all the more special, no?"
Among Joseon yangban, some read Buddhist scriptures as a hobby.
In actual history, there were cases of an elder brother becoming a monk and a younger passing the civil exam.
But Prince Hyoryeong's erudite Buddhist knowledge definitely crossed the line.
No wonder Grand Prince Suyang didn't even invite him to the Gyeyu Coup and had no thought of purging him.
Who in Joseon would crown a monk-like man as king?
"The most important thing in karmic bonds is trust. So, cherish that trust with your wife and build a beautiful family."
"Yes, Your Highness."
While the attendants Prince Hyoryeong brought were unloading considerable gifts in the bride's family's courtyard, he handed me a talisman.
"This is a talisman written by the abbot of Bong-eun Temple himself. They say it's effective for conceiving sons. I heard you don't disdain superstitions much, and even wives of scholarly families sometimes receive talismans from monks... Please accept it."
"I gratefully accept."
Shortly after bidding farewell to Prince Hyoryeong, the wedding rites began.
Winter in her wedding red silk robe was so breathtakingly beautiful that words failed me.
Usually, hanbok—especially formal wear—layers up and loosens as the formality increases, hiding the figure...
But like a pouch with an awl inside naturally poking a hole, Winter's beautiful bosom wasn't concealed by mere hanbok fabric.
And when our eyes met, the way she shyly averted her gaze with a smile...
Everything about Winter was beautiful to me.
For this sight alone, I felt I could endure Chief State Councillor for 30 years—even that wicked thought crossed my mind.
Not long after the wedding concluded, a storm hit the court.
The Ming Emperor had died.