Doubts Beyond Curiosity
Jang Yeon-hwa wasn't filled with curiosity about the world—she harbored doubts about it. If you asked me the difference between curiosity and doubt, I'd struggle to answer precisely, but one thing was clear: the former was easy to satisfy, the latter nearly impossible.
'The difference between Yunnam and Wolnam?' The more I chewed on that question, the dizzier my mind spun. If she'd simply been curious about their features or asked about my experiences there, I could've rattled off answers all day. But explaining why two distinct nations had taken root in those regions, and what set them apart? How the hell was I supposed to tackle that?
The time of incorporation into the Central Plains? No—Yunnam and Wolnam had both been absorbed around the same era. That peerless conqueror, Emperor Wu of Han, had smashed through both with equal gusto. What about the period when they established independent dynasties outside Central Plains rule? Regrettably, Wolnam—still building its own sovereign state today—had gained independence later than Yunnam. If we were talking timelines, Yunnam should've been in Wolnam's position.
'Reincorporation, then?' The one real distinction was that independent Yunnam got swallowed back up by the Mongols, while Wolnam survived. That divergence sealed Yunnam's fate as part of the Central Plains, letting Wolnam cling to its distinct identity—
'I'm no scholar.' A wave of self-loathing hit me. I was just a frontline bureaucrat rolling in the dirt, not some academic dissecting the world's history and culture. She wouldn't get the depth she craved from me. So I racked my brain for a way out: ignore her question outright? No. Overcome this crisis without offending her?
'Ah.' Luckily, a decent escape hatch popped into my head.
"Mongol barbarian rule was harsh and merciless," I began, feigning a direct answer to her doubt. "Yunnam had its unique culture and history trampled underfoot, but Wolnam repelled three Mongol invasions. They even forged solidarity and pride through mutual cooperation in overcoming the crisis."
"Victory in war..." My off-the-cuff line landed perfectly; Jang Yeon-hwa nodded solemnly, her face grave.
Good. Time to redirect her attention.
'Sorry, buddy.' With an internal apology, I subtly flicked Samshik from my sleeve onto the table.
- Shyik?
- Sieeek?
- Shiuuuk?
Samshik, suddenly thrust into the spotlight, tilted all three heads quizzically before staring blankly at me, as if asking, What the hell is this? Too complacent. If he'd panicked and bolted back to my lap—or pretended to faint or sleep—he might've been safe.
"Oh?"
But Samshik did nothing. Right in front of this too-much-talker brimming with worldly doubts, he brazenly flaunted his living, breathing presence.
"I-is that a three-headed snake?"
"Ah, yes. A gift from His Highness Nang-jung Wang himself. He personally named it Samshik."
I nodded sheepishly at her words, laced with faint excitement, acting like it'd been an accidental drop—purely unintentional.
"It usually stays quiet in my lap, but Hangzhou's prosperity must be dazzling enough to draw even this little guy's interest."
- Shyik?
No, I twisted it to sound like he'd crawled out on his own. Of course, Samshik—who understood every word—tilted his heads again, as if to say, What're you on about? He couldn't care less about a city's prosperity or glamour. Food, maybe—but not urban hustle.
- Shyiiik.
Anyway, Samshik waddled toward me, clearly begging to be tucked back in, but...
"Gr-Great hero! If it's not too rude, may I touch it!?"
Too late—Jang Yeon-hwa's focus had locked onto him.
"Of course. But he's still young, so please handle him gently."
"Don't worry! I've raised chicks before—I'm used to small animals!"
One of Samshik's heads swiveled toward her at her confident tone, finally sensing something was off.
"Come here, little one!"
- Shyik! Shyiiik!
Despite her invitation, she snatched him up first. Caught in a stranger's grasp, Samshik flailed his heads and tail in protest—but alas, his strength and size were no match for an adult's hand.
'Forgive me, Samshik.' It felt like betrayal, selling him out like this, but survival of the master first, right? My humble brain couldn't handle her full intellectual barrage.
'This is the last time, though...' Probably.
Sacrificing Samshik was a masterstroke. Differences between Yunnam and Wolnam? Local cultural vibes? Who cared. Experts could be summoned for that—or worst case, she could verify in person with escorts. But a three-headed snake? Even a royal granddaughter like Jang Yeon-hwa rarely glimpsed one. Nang-jung Wang had scoured the entire Central Plains to find him.
"The Buddha must've sent you to Hangzhou out of compassion for me! Without a great hero like you, how could I behold such a spirit beast?!"
"I'm honored by your words."
As Samshik slumped limply on the table, battered by her extreme petting, Jang Yeon-hwa bowed repeatedly, eyes sparkling.
"No, thank you! Thanks to you, great hero, I've realized how vast the world is and how much I don't know!"
Thirsty from her fervor, she downed the cold tea in one gulp and took a deep breath.
"I haven't experienced the world firsthand, but I prided myself on my knowledge. Yet meeting you introduced me to things beyond my books—proving book learning has its limits."
"As the saying goes, seeing is worth a hundred hearings."
I readily affirmed her passionate claim. No book, however fine, beat real experience. Better one glimpse than a hundred tales. The ancient sages hadn't coined it idly.
"Truth is... I'd given up on seeing the world myself. Grandfather opposed it so fiercely, it felt pointless to push."
Her hee-hee giggle drew a wry internal smile from me. Why did Dong-gu Wang block her? Worry over his curious granddaughter dying abroad, sure—but he knew my own dog-like wanderings as a royal prince-turned-official. He dreaded her turning out like me. Convenient to exploit someone else's granddaughter; different when it was his own.
"But! Seeing you changed my mind—I've made my resolve!"
'Resolve?' Instinctive dread surged. We'd only chatted hours, but I'd clocked her as far from ordinary. What madness constituted "resolve" for her—
"I'll venture not just the Central Plains, but the wider world beyond!"
"Pardon?"
"Someday, I'll pilgrimage across the Central Plains by carriage, then conquer oceans on massive ships! I'll witness merchants' lands beyond the sea with my own eyes! Then I'll rack up experiences as vast as yours, great hero!"
Her ambition was so awe-inspiring, I vowed on the spot: escape Hangzhou before this reached Dong-gu Wang's ears. He might rage, 'That bastard who filled my granddaughter's head with nonsense!'
Gaga and I lingered over tea long after the conversation ended.
"She was full of energy," I ventured cautiously toward Gaga, who seemed drained from sparring verbally with Jang Yeon-hwa.
"Yeah. World-changing energy." Gaga's half-joking gripe drew a soft smile from me. Just a bit winded—otherwise fine.
World-changing vigor. Even as banter, that was high praise.
"Conquering seas on massive ships."
"Impressive, right? A world broader than the Central Plains—hard to even imagine."
The Central Plains alone dwarfed nations; one region could match a kingdom. Folks born in Habuk lived and died there, same for Sachon. Pilgrimaging the whole, then beyond—not to neighbors like Goryeo or Wolnam, but overseas? Wild.
"Still, aiming high is good, they say. Try drawing a tiger, you at least get a cat."
Over-the-top dream, but if it was hers, I'd cheer it. Dreaming was every soul's right; blocking it, no one's.
"Who knows? With Jang Yeon-hwa, she might actually sail off."
Gaga reached for Samshik on the table as she spoke.
- Shyiiik!
- Sieeeek!
- Shiuuuk!
"Sorry, buddy. Got something tasty for you—don't be mad."
Still sulking from Jang Yeon-hwa's torment, Samshik fumed at Gaga but soon climbed aboard, mollified. Adorable, yet poignant. Such a gentle soul surviving the wild without Nang-jung Wang or Gaga's care...?
"Jang Yeon-hwa will challenge the seas, success or failure. I'd prefer Central Plains folk just live quietly among ourselves, but she won't ignore a wider world once she knows."
"Think so?"
"Probably. If not ships, she'll walk to Tianzhu."
Gaga chuckled, then sighed softly.
"Hope nothing like that happens while I'm in office."
A royal granddaughter's grand voyage? The bureaucracy would erupt.
Her voice, appended with that grim note, sounded more forlorn than ever—like someone who'd glimpsed a horrific future.