Yi Seong-gye's Tears of Blood
As everyone else left the room, Yi Bang-won turned to Yi Bang-gwa.
"Brother Bang-gwa... You must become the crown prince for our late mother to receive the honor she deserves."
"What are you talking about? Are you referring to our birth mother?"
"Yes. Our departed mother was pushed aside by Lady Gang and granted only the lowly title of Jeolbi. Lady Gang, on the other hand, received the exalted title of Queen Sin Deok. So, once you become crown prince, please petition Father on her behalf for a proper title. It must come from Father's own hand. I can't do it myself, so I need your help, brother."
"Even if you became crown prince, that wouldn't... Ah, never mind."
If Yi Bang-won became crown prince, Yi Seong-gye would never listen to him. No, he might even refuse to appoint him at all. In any case, Yi Bang-gwa found the proposal tempting. He had always been bothered that his birth mother received only the title of Jeolbi, and it was his one grievance against his father, Yi Seong-gye. Yi Bang-won knew this well and was exploiting it. Of course, it was also sincere. Yi Bang-won himself harbored resentment over his mother's meager title. So, he wanted to elevate her once through his brother now, and again later when he himself became king, granting a title incomparable to Lady Gang's Queen Sin Deok.
"Very well, Bang-won. I'll serve as crown prince only until Mother is properly honored. Will that do?"
"You can keep doing it as long as you like."
"No, I truly hate it. Besides, among us brothers, you're the only one fit to be king. Only you can bear that throne, Bang-won."
"Brother..."
"So don't keep me in the crown prince seat too long. I really don't want it. And I have a favor to ask."
"Yes, brother. Tell me."
"Spare Bang-beon. What crime has that child committed? He's just a pitiful boy."
"Yes. I'll send him into exile."
"Thank you, Bang-won."
Yi Bang-won had no intention of killing him now anyway. He planned to find an excuse later. With Yi Bang-beon's poor behavior, it wouldn't take long, so Yi Bang-won wasn't worried.
With that, Yi Bang-gwa resolved to become crown prince, and Yi Bang-won immediately led Ha Ryeon, Sin Geuk-rye, Yi Geo-i, Min Mu-gu, Min Mu-jil, Yi Cheon-u, and others to the Office of Special Counsellors.
To draft the petition deposing Crown Prince Yi Bang-seok and installing Yi Bang-gwa as the new crown prince.
In the end, Yi Bang-won persuaded Yi Bang-gwa. Afterward, I returned from the Office of Special Counsellors. I was simply standing guard beside Yi Bang-won, who sat in the seat of honor alongside Min Mu-gu. Of course, I was just standing there. I wasn't even wearing my sword or armor—I'd changed into court robes. Everyone else was in court attire too. But with killers fresh from bloodshed standing right there, no high minister in the Office could have felt at ease.
In any case, Yi Bang-won was reviewing the joint petition from the Office's ministers supporting our uprising.
"This should suffice. Now, let's discuss deposing the crown prince. Yi Bang-seok lacks the qualities for the position, and as the son of a consort, he never had the right to surpass the legitimate eldest son in the first place. We should depose him and reinstall Elder Brother Yeongan-gun as crown prince. What say you all?"
"Has Lord Yeongan-gun consented?"
"He has."
With Yi Bang-gwa's consent, everyone voiced unanimous approval in record time. Partly out of fear of us, but it seemed there had been considerable dissatisfaction with the crown prince appointment already. And so, they decided to draft the petition and the edict for Yi Seong-gye to seal.
Yi Bang-won said he would present it to Yi Seong-gye with the Office ministers once the cleanup was finished, then left the Office.
Afterward, as we handled the aftermath outside, Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon called for me and Min Mu-gu.
"You called for us?"
"Mu-gu, Mu-jil, you two worked hard this time."
"No, brother-in-law."
"No, you both did something tremendous. Especially you, Mu-jil—you truly suffered. Without you, it wouldn't have ended this smoothly."
"You're too kind, brother-in-law."
"Too kind? It's simply the truth."
"Indeed, my lord. Mu-jil truly endured so much."
At those words, Yi Bang-won gave a small smile.
"Mu-gu, rest well today. Starting tomorrow, help with my affairs. As for Mu-jil, you have separate work, so I won't summon you. Others can handle reorganizing the troops and follow-up matters."
"Brother-in-law, what is it?"
"I've had Jeong Do-jeon's books moved to your house. Read them. It wouldn't hurt for you to go through them first."
Jeong Do-jeon's books—I was curious anyway. Perfect.
"Show off that skill even Zhu Yuan-zhang praised. Organize Jeong Do-jeon's thoughts well. Though he's our enemy, he's an exceptional Confucian scholar who's pondered long and hard how this Joseon should be run. There must be something useful in there."
He was right. I despised Jeong Do-jeon, but I couldn't deny he was a brilliant thinker. His personality was the problem. Honestly, if he'd died shortly after founding like Yun So-jong, he'd probably be held in much higher regard. And organizing again... I'd done it countless times in my past life, and now it was routine here too.
"Of course, if something comes up, I'll call you briefly. We should drink together—just us. I'll invite the meritorious retainers who contributed greatly this time, and we'll all have a round."
Drinking then... I'd have to stay sharp amid the tension.
"Yes, brother-in-law. See you then."
With that, I headed home. Han Yeo-ul saw me and rushed over, hugging me tightly.
"I was so worried, my lord. Are you alright?"
She knew about the coup and had been anxious. I explained the situation, and she visibly relaxed.
"No more persecution from Jeong Do-jeon. You can live at ease now, my lady."
"Thank goodness. I never want to go through this again."
Honestly, I couldn't promise that.
"How have you been, my lady?"
"I've missed you terribly, my lord. And the food you make—I longed for it so much."
I wanted to tease her that she missed my cooking more than me, but her tear-streaked face stopped me.
Afterward, I saw Wol and Jang Yeong-sil at home. I'd asked them to keep Han Yeo-ul company while I was in Chungcheong Province. They were still young and didn't say much. Jang Yeong-sil seemed aware something had happened but treated it as none of his concern.
In any case, I could finally relax. Of course, I'd still handle Yi Bang-won's task.
So, I enjoyed peaceful daily life for the first time in ages—cooking for Han Yeo-ul and reading Jeong Do-jeon's books.
God, there were so damn many.
While I pored over Jeong Do-jeon's books, Yi Bang-won handled follow-up with the others. Reorganizing Chungcheong troops back to Chungcheong Province was led by Ha Ryeon and Park Eun; capital security by Sin Geuk-rye and Yi Geo-i. Nam Eun and Yi Jik were also captured—or rather, they turned themselves in to the Office of Enforcement.
Their punishments differed: Yi Jik was spared, but Nam Eun was executed. I knew Nam Eun would die. Yi Bang-won had wanted to spare him but told me it would be too troublesome if he schemed beside Yi Seong-gye later. It made sense, so I didn't object. Unlike Jeong Do-jeon, Nam Eun had public support, making him truly dangerous.
Nam Eun died that way, and since it weighed on Yi Bang-won, he told Nam Eun's brother Nam Jae to take the body and hold a proper funeral.
Come to think of it, Nam Jae... During the chaos, he'd fled until our father sheltered him at home. When he still couldn't relax, Yi Bang-won sent people to reassure him: he'd never forget Nam Jae volunteering to go to Ming together. If only that applied to me too.
In any event, the Princes' Revolt was over. Yi Bang-won just needed the Office ministers to get Yi Seong-gye to seal the pre-drafted edict. Then Yi Bang-beon and Yi Bang-seok would die. Yi Bang-seok was set to be killed by Yi Geo-i's men the moment he left the palace. Yi Bang-beon would go into exile first, then be executed later on some pretext—but actually by Yi Bang-gan's hand.
I could stop Yi Bang-gan if I wanted, but I didn't. A living Yi Bang-beon would be nothing but trouble. If he survived until the Strife of the Princes and Yi Seong-gye pushed him as king, it'd be a headache. Better to eliminate variables now, especially since the Strife coincided with a critical turning point in the Jeongnan Uprising. Preventing Emperor Yongle's ascension was far more important anyway. Besides, Yi Seong-gye didn't cherish Yi Bang-beon enough to spark the Strife over him alone. Saving Yi Bang-seok might be different, but that was impossible.
Thinking about it, Yi Bang-seok was probably dying soon anyway. He still hadn't begged Yi Bang-won. What was he thinking? From Yi Hwa onward, everyone was trying to save Yi Je, yet he hadn't come pleading. Did he think he'd be purged later regardless? But that was Yi Je's miscalculation. Yi Bang-won quite favored Princess Gyeongseun, so he'd have spared her husband Yi Je with the barest justification. Without even that, there was no choice.
Now Yi Seong-gye would truly shed tears of blood. His two young sons and his last loyal retainer—and son-in-law—were dead.
While Min Mu-jil organized Jeong Do-jeon's books like this, Yi Bang-won took the Office ministers to present the petition and edict to Yi Seong-gye. Of course, Yi Bang-won waited outside the bedchamber.
Yi Seong-gye read the supportive joint petition for the uprising and the edict exiling Yi Bang-beon, Yi Bang-seok, and others.
"Are you telling me simply to affix my seal to this edict you've written?"
"We beg your pardon, Your Highness."
"So this vile traitor has seized even the Office of Special Counsellors."
But he had no choice but to seal it. Refuse, and Yi Bang-won would drag Yi Bang-seok out and kill him with troops. Min Mu-jil would carry it out without question. Since it mentioned exile, Yi Seong-gye sealed it to buy time for saving Bang-seok. He still thought he had plenty as king. And he vowed revenge on Yi Bang-won.
As he moved to seal it, he saw that Jeong Do-jeon and Nam Eun were dead, branded traitors, and Lady Gang demoted to consort. Yi Seong-gye wept, then dry-heaved.
Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong, flustered, asked:
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Yi Seong-gye replied, tears streaming:
"It feels like something's lodged in my throat, refusing to go down."
Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong wept too. Though Yi Seong-gye had erred in choosing the crown prince, seeing him so broken filled them with guilt.
Yi Seong-gye sobbed long, then sealed the edict. Everything proceeded swiftly after. Yi Bang-gwa was installed as the new crown prince. Surviving Jeong Do-jeon allies like Prince Sunnyeong Yi Ji were exiled. Yi Bang-seok and Yi Bang-beon headed to private homes before exile.
As Yi Bang-seok left for his residence, his wife Lady Sim clung to his legs, wailing he'd die, but he departed. Before reaching it, Yi Geo-i's men slaughtered him on the spot. Yi Bang-beon met the same fate—Yi Bang-gan, long resentful, sent men to kill him outright.
This sparked a major quarrel between Yi Bang-won and Yi Bang-gan, but at Yi Bang-gwa's plea that no more brotherly strife could be tolerated, the rift was temporarily mended.
Meanwhile, Yi Je died too. Despite endless urging to beg, he never came, so Yi Bang-won sent Yi Suk-beon to execute him.
News of Yi Bang-seok, Yi Bang-beon, and Yi Je's deaths reached Yi Seong-gye, plunging him into shock.
"All dead? Every one of them?"
"Yes, Your Highness. All dead!"
"That Bang-won bastard..."
Furious at Yi Bang-beon and Yi Je's deaths, Yi Seong-gye went mad at Yi Bang-seok's. He'd sealed the edict to buy time, yet Yi Bang-won killed him within a day. He wailed curses at Yi Bang-won all night.
The next day, ignoring retainers' pleas, Yi Seong-gye visited Princess Gyeongseun's residence—the last blood tie with Lady Gang—to save her. He couldn't trust the lying Yi Bang-won. He made her a nun, desperate to preserve her.
The following day, he summoned Yi Bang-gwa, forcing him to inherit the throne to block Yi Bang-won.
Meanwhile, Yi Bang-won gathered Ha Ryeon, Yi Geo-i, Sin Geuk-rye, Min Mu-gu, Min Mu-jil, Yi Suk-beon—heroes of the uprising—for a banquet, discussing future plans.