The Selection
A rare leisurely weekend. If Seo-yeon were in Seoul, we could've gone on a date for the first time in ages, but she's in Samcheok right now. Suddenly, King Munjong's health came to mind. He'd said he'd select a queen on May 14th, so the selection process was probably underway by now.
Your Highness, it's been a while since I last inquired about your health. How is your cough?
Lately, the cough has almost disappeared. It only comes once or twice occasionally.
How is your sleep?
I lie down at ha-si (9-11 PM) and rise at in-si (3-5 AM). I sleep more deeply than before.
How about your appetite?
Sometimes I even eat two bowls. However, my hand won't move at the sight of oysters.
I burst out laughing at Jeon Sun-ui's excessive loyalty. I wondered just how many oysters were piled up in the ice storage by now.
Compared to half a year ago, Munjong's health had noticeably improved. The cough had lessened, sleep was deeper, and appetite had increased.
If you say your tastes have changed lately, won't Jeon Sun-ui take care of switching things up?
I could only hope a queen would enter soon and change up the royal meals.
Twenty-nine candidates for selection are heading to Hanyang.
As expected. The selection had officially begun. In the original history, it hadn't even started.
I'd asked Do-yoon about it once before. Whether there was anyone who died from symptoms like mine.
It was the first time I'd done a proper medical interview. Munjong still remembered that question.
I couldn't let his queen fade away like the palace maids from his crown prince days. I couldn't let another Kwon die like that. The criteria for this selection had become clear.
I'd explained family history to him. If someone in the family has suffered long from the same illness, their descendants are more likely to suffer from it as well. You must check if family members have had lung disease, diabetes, or heart conditions, and whether the mother and sisters have given birth safely.
I'll instruct Jeon Sun-ui.
Munjong paused to choose his words, then added,
Above all, before being my mate, she must be the mother to the crown prince.
A boy who lost his father at twelve and became king. Now, that boy would have a mother.
The tip of my nose tingled. After a moment's hesitation, I added one more thing.
The day before the final selection, summon the court ladies to conduct medical interviews.
I'll instruct that as well.
A few days later, while on night duty, a Gatong message arrived from Munjong.
Do-yoon, sleep evades me.
'Has his health worsened again?'
Gazing at the names written on the slips, Kwon comes to mind.
I said nothing. When a patient speaks of pain, the doctor listens first.
The crown prince grew up without a mother. That is my greatest debt.
Your Highness, that is not a debt.
Failing to protect the mother is the father's debt.
I didn't argue further. This wasn't a matter of logic.
Do-yoon, ensure you do not lose the one you love.
Seo-yeon came to mind.
Yes, Your Highness. Sleep well.
I closed the Gatong and stared at the duty room ceiling. In the fluorescent light, Seo-yeon's face flickered into view and faded away.
Could I ever hide the Gatong from her?
Munjong would keep it secret from his queen for life. I probably would too.
The next day, a text came from Seo-yeon.
I headed to Yongin Saturday morning. This wasn't my first time meeting Seo-yeon's parents. I'd seen them three times before, but each time I had that exhausted resident look.
The first greeting must've been especially rough, during my heavy on-call rotation.
I knew what they'd say today. We'd been dating for six years. I was in my final resident year, with the specialist exam ahead. Seo-yeon, who'd started as a new hire at one of Korea's top companies—not POSCO, but Sasco—had risen to manager.
'Today, I'm here for a modern-style selection.'
The difference? Munjong was doing the choosing; I was the one being chosen. That made me inwardly tense.
Entering the restaurant room, I greeted them as briskly as possible.
"I'm Lee Do-yoon. Pleased to meet you."
Seo-yeon's father sat with military-short hair and ramrod posture, as befitted a career soldier. Her mother had a gentle face.
As soon as I sat, her father offered a handshake.
"Good to see you after so long. I've heard a lot from Seo-yeon."
Food started arriving. Even while eating, I focused on timely, appropriate responses.
When the main dish, fish cake hot pot, came out, her mother asked,
"When does residency end?"
"February next year."
"The specialist exam is early next year too, right? And after that?"
I paused briefly. I knew where this was going.
"I plan to keep working at the university hospital even after getting my specialist certification."
Her father cut in, straightforward as a soldier.
"Not about doctor life. What about with Seo-yeon?"
I glanced at Seo-yeon. Her mouth was already opening.
"Dad..."
He held up a hand to stop her. This was the moment.
"We're serious about each other. Once I get my specialist qualification, we plan to marry."
Her father suddenly set down his chopsticks.
"Do-yoon, just one question."
"Yes."
"Can you make our Seo-yeon happy?"
I answered honestly.
"I can't boldly claim I'll always do well. There'll be many shortcomings because of hospital work. But I want to be by Seo-yeon's side. And I'll take responsibility to ensure she's happy with me, to the end."
Silence fell in the room. Her father pressed the call button.
"One bottle of soju here."
He poured me a glass of soju and said,
"No secrets between you."
After the meal, we saw her parents off and sat on a bench outside the restaurant.
"You did great."
"Really? Good thing."
Seo-yeon looked at me and added,
"Dad said this morning he'd order soju if he liked you."
She leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Not curious what he'd do if he didn't?"
Her question suddenly piqued my interest.
"He'd order Chojungri Heuksansu."
'What's wrong with Chojungri Heuksansu...'
She pulled back, smiling brightly.
"I'm happy when you're by my side too, oppa. What you said to Dad was good."
I was happy.
Back home, a Gatong message awaited.
The preliminary selection is over. Seven were chosen. The final is in ten days.
A noble lady from a family connected to Do-yoon was among them, but not selected.
'No way...?'
I widened my eyes. But Han Myeong-hoe was probably handling garlic in Seosan right now. It was the youngest daughter of Han Hwak, a distant relative of Han Myeong-hoe. They were in-laws too, but passed over due to frequent premature births in the family.
Han Hwak was Prince Suyang's in-law. The wife of Suyang's eldest son, Prince Dowon Yi Jang, was Han Hwak's sixth daughter. They'd married two years ago, in 1450.
And Yi Jang was also the father of Sejo.
After the Gyeyu Coup, he'd be called Crown Prince Uigyeong, later King Deokjong. But now, he'd end his days as Prince Dowon.
Crown Prince Uigyeong died before twenty. Five years from now.
His appearance and bearing were dignified and stately, his temperament and character mild and straightforward. In dealing with people and things, he showed a gentle and affable demeanor, yet in making decisions on matters, he was resolute without hesitation.
Now I understood why Suyang was interested in Bosan-dang. With Bosan-dang established, there should be no issues.
The mood had grown heavy, so I tossed Munjong a half-joking remark.
I went through a selection today too.
What do you mean?
The parents of my prospective bride inspected me.
Munjong replied quickly.
And the result?
I was selected.
What sort of man is your father-in-law?
A military officer.
The daughter of a military man will have a straightforward temperament. A queen must be so.
I laughed.
It's a bit different from queen selection.
In the end, it's all about judging people.
Those words lingered strangely long. In the end, it was all about choosing someone to entrust a lifetime to.