The Gisaeng’s Way of Making Allies

“How… how could this be…!!!” The Left State Councilor held the box containing the yumilgwa, his hands trembling. What a pathetic display. A man who held the rank of Prime Minister in Joseon, reduced to this state simply because he could not overcome his own gluttony? He even understood the intent behind this gift. If he were to consume these, he would find it difficult to make any further threatening remarks against Han Sujin. He would be creating a weakness for himself. He would be handing over a vulnerability.

Just as Han Sujin had become the King’s weakness, these yumilgwa had become the Left State Councilor’s. He was being forced into a relationship where a mere gisaeng held his weakness, and they would spend their time probing each other’s vulnerabilities. Like political rivals. It was happening. A lowly gisaeng, becoming his political adversary. A fight is only a fight when it occurs between equals. If he were to acknowledge that gisaeng as a rival, would it be elevating the man, or lowering himself? The answer, of course, was both.

‘I… I…!! To think…!!!!’ If he were to suffer defeat as a politician, shouldn’t it at least be a downfall caused by being caught up in a grand factional struggle? If he were to accept a bribe that would become a weakness, shouldn’t it be fields that yielded rice just by sowing seeds, or ten million gold pieces with which one could buy anything? Was he to sell himself for a mere snack? Was the Left State Councilor of Joseon to be held hostage by a weakness for something that provided nothing more than a few minutes of sweetness and grease when put in the mouth?

‘Throw it away!’ He had to throw it away. Throw it away. Trample it. Please, let me do it. My hands, my feet, please, obey my command. But. His mouth watered. But. The sweet fragrance pierced his nose. But. It had been ten years. He opened the box. He picked up a yumilgwa with his bare hands. He put it in his mouth. It was sweet. The honeyed water flowed like meat juices. He scrambled to stuff it into his mouth. His tongue went numb, and tears welled up. He swallowed while weeping. He hid his sin by burying it in his stomach. The box was empty. Like a dog licking a rice bowl, he poked out his tongue to lick up the crumbs. Jang Yi-in’s long ears were pressed against the edge of the box. It felt as if Han Sujin’s hand were pinching her ears, teasing her. It was humiliating. The Left State Councilor’s eyes grew hot with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shame. However, it was sweet. The yumilgwa, tasted for the first time in ten years, was sweet enough to make him think that enduring such humiliation had been worth it.

Daejojeon, Cheonghyang-gak. In a building that had recently been without an owner, three young court attendants were gathered. “What kind of person could he be?” “I don’t know either.” Two of them were young children who had not yet undergone their coming-of-age ceremony, and only one was a full-fledged court lady.

“We’ve been cast aside.” “What do you mean by that, Hang-a?” “They say the person we are to serve is a lowly gisaeng. The King may be interested in him now, but won’t that end soon enough?” The court lady sighed. “We need to serve someone who will continue to hold power so that we, as servants, can get some scraps, but what is the point of serving someone who might disappear at any moment?”

As the court lady had said, the three of them had been pushed out of the internal political struggles of the Inner Court and assigned here. To anyone, being sent here meant that their path to success was blocked. Though the two younger ones ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn’t quite understand the concept. “Sigh… forget it.” What was the point of talking to them? The court lady suffered in silence. ‘Other court ladies say that the reason Court Lady Mi-ok disappeared so suddenly recently was because she incurred the King’s wrath because of that gisaeng…’

Court Lady Mi-ok was the attendant who had died a few days ago, spitting blood from her throat while trying to harass Han Sujin. ‘The rumors can’t possibly be true, can they…? Ugh, I just hope he doesn’t harass us at the very least…’ There were cases where superiors treated their subordinates poorly, and being royalty was no exception. For instance, Prince Anyang liked to give court attendants useless tasks and then mock them later, and Princess Hyesuk would often find fault for no reason when she was in a bad mood and bring out the rod. ‘I’ve heard that people who were lowly and ignored treat others harshly once they suddenly rise to power…’ The court lady shrank back. ‘I hope he doesn’t do that to us…’

Finally, a man appeared, guided by a eunuch. ‘…He is certainly beautiful.’ Yes, she could understand why the King had taken an interest. He was a man of exceptional beauty. The eunuch gestured toward where the young attendants were. “These Hang-a will serve you while you are here.” The eunuch, regardless of his personal feelings toward Han Sujin, also assumed that he would be leaving the palace before long. “I shall take my leave now.” “I am merely grateful for your trouble in serving this lowly man despite your busy schedule.” “…Hmm.” The eunuch glanced at Han Sujin one last time and turned away. At the very least, he wouldn’t be spreading malicious rumors about Han Sujin to other eunuchs. And Han Sujin bowed politely even to the court attendants younger than himself.

“You all must be going through a lot of trouble because of this one lowly man.” The court lady was taken aback and used honorifics. “Why, why are you doing this? Please, treat us comfortably.” “No, I cannot do that.” His tone was soft but firm. “Although the King said he assigned you to me, I am but a lowly person, and you are the King’s people, are you not? How could this lowly thing treat the King’s people with disrespect?” “…That is…”

“Especially you, Hang-a, your posture is very graceful.” The court lady pointed to herself with a trembling voice. “Me, you mean?” “Yes, you, Hang-a. How is it that your waistline is so upright and beautiful?” The court lady consciously straightened her back. In fact, having good posture was a strength she had been conscious of since she was young. “The same goes for the younger ones. Please, do not concern yourselves with this lowly man.” “Uh… but if we do that, they’ll say we aren’t working…” “Do not worry. I shall give you only simple errands from time to time so that no rumors of you being lazy will spread.” And with a wink of one eye, he added, “While this lowly thing is at Cheonghyang-gak, let us please get along well.”

The court ladies had their own separate living quarters, and two of them shared a room. The court lady assigned to Han Sujin told her roommate that evening, “That person who came to Cheonghyang-gak, even though he is a gisaeng, is by no means a lowly person.” “A gisaeng who isn’t lowly? What are you talking about?” “I have never seen an artist (ye-in) with such soft, noble scholarship and character as him… it is rare.” In her heart, she wanted to say “never.” Because Han Sujin seemed better than the high-ranking officials she saw passing by. But once one became a court lady, one learned that speaking such things carelessly would lead to severe punishment. The roommate tilted her head. “How is that possible? Isn’t a gisaeng someone who receives money to sell dance and song to women?” “I don’t know either. He is such a person, so what can I do?”

Unable to even leave the palace, their only leisure after work was to gather and chat. The favorable reviews of Han Sujin spread among the court attendants in an instant. “Did you hear? That gisaeng who came to Cheonghyang-gak…” “I saw him from afar, and he was very graceful.” “They say his mindset and attitude are even better than his face.” “I heard that even when Court Lady Mi-ok was harmed, that gisaeng didn’t say a word.” “Shh. Don’t talk about that incident.”

And through the court attendants, the reputation of Han Sujin was conveyed to the royalty in various places. Even to the ears of the Queen Dowager, the great elder of the current Joseon royal family. “Is that so? His origins are lowly, but the person himself is not vulgar?” A man in his thirties quietly asked the court attendants. “Yes, Your Majesty. His speech and conduct are refined, and his character is elegant.” Queen Jeonghyeon, the second queen of the late King Seongjong. In other words, the current King’s stepmother. The Queen Dowager nodded slowly. “When I first heard that a gisaeng had been brought into Daejojeon, I wondered why the King had done so, but it seems that His Majesty also made his judgment based on the person’s character.” “Then, what shall we do about the visit scheduled for today?”

Originally, the Queen Dowager had intended to visit Changdeokgung Palace today. To protest. If she had done so, it would have been a great burden on Han Sujin. It could have even threatened her safety and life. Regarding problems within the royal family, the Queen Dowager was a figure with such power. “I will go. It has been a long time since I paid my respects to the King.” However. “I can just ask about that gisaeng lightly.”

The Queen Dowager visited, but she only asked lightly about the gisaeng of Daejojeon before returning. Han Sujin heard this news from the young attendant and breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. ‘Thank goodness. I have avoided one of the greatest dangers, at least for now.’ But he did not show it at all on the outside. He was currently in the middle of talking to the young attendant about “light errands that wouldn’t lead to rumors of laziness.” “Then, for the next one, would you mind going to the Seonggyungwan? Please listen to what the scholars there are discussing and come back.” “Yes!” The young attendant was simply happy. A few days later. The King called for me again. This time it was bright daylight, and the place was not the bedchamber but the study. As if to consciously deny the night we had poured drinks in front of the lantern. The King’s face, seen after a few days, was as beautiful as ever. “Han Sujin.”

I bowed my head deeply and waited for her command. “I have a task for you.” “Please, tell me anything.” “It has been proven that your Cheonryepum (Heavenly Gift) is of great help in detecting demons, as shown by your performance last time.” “That my lowly talent was of help to Your Majesty fills me with joy.” “There is a rumor that a demon has hidden among the people in Pyeongyang. Go with the warriors of the Soma-won and the Uigeumbu and uncover ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the truth of the rumors. I will give you the details separately. You may withdraw now.”

Her speech was fast, and she omitted many specific details. She wanted to end this meeting as quickly as possible. I offered my respects and turned to leave. The moment I turned my back, the King called me again. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠“Han Sujin.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “…….” I could see the desires for me swirling in her eyes. And the King knew that I could see the desires in her heart. “…Do not get hurt. That is a royal command.” It was a short sentence, considering the long silence that preceded it. “How could I ever let Your Majesty’s property be harmed?” “…Ha.” The King burst into a short laugh. “Are you my property?” “You told me to become your eyes and ears, Your Majesty.” “…Right. I did.” The King waved her hand. “That is all. You may withdraw.” I turned my back again. “Han Sujin.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “………….” The King placed her hand over her own face. As if to hide her royal countenance from me. “It is nothing.” It was a small, weak voice, unlike the master of Joseon. “Go. Quickly.”

She told me to go with the warriors of the Soma-won and the Uigeumbu. The latter was a Banmain whose face I recognized. “Are you not Investigator O Jayeon?” “…We meet again.”

“Do not come near me. This time, I will absolutely not be swayed by your flowery words.”