Min Mu-jil Becomes Minister of the Royal Secretariat
Yi Bang-gwa and Yi Bang-won were waiting when Yi Bang-won arrived.
"Bang-won, you've come."
"Yes, did you summon me, Your Highness?"
"I heard that Bang-gan fell for some foolish rumor and tried to attack you. I'm relieved no one was hurt and it was all sorted out."
"I apologize for causing you worry."
"No, no. So, Bang-won, how would you have this matter resolved?"
"Do as you see fit, Your Highness."
Yi Bang-gwa pondered for a long while before speaking.
"Even so, in hard times, blood is all we have. He's your brother and my younger sibling. Please, at least spare his life."
"Understood, Your Highness. Then I'll send him into exile in Anshan."
"Good. Thank you."
When Yi Bang-gwa seemed to hesitate as if there was more, Yi Bang-won said,
"Your Highness, if there's anything else you need, feel free to command it."
"Bang-won, I truly thank you. And there's something I must tell you."
"Please speak, Your Highness."
"Call me hyungnim for now."
After a moment's thought, Yi Bang-won called him "hyungnim," and Yi Bang-gwa looked immensely pleased.
"Bang-won, I'm going to enfeoff you as crown prince soon. And pass the throne to you next year."
"Hyungnim."
"Seeing Bang-gan try to attack you like that... I truly hate this position. I'd hand it over right now if I could, but procedures must be followed, so it'll be then."
Yi Bang-gwa loathed this stifling palace and politics. Lately, his father Yi Seong-gye had been pressuring him to enfeoff his concubine's son Bulno as crown prince, adding to his mental burden. With Bang-gan acting out too, he no longer hesitated to designate Yi Bang-won as the next king and abdicate. He never wanted to see family blood spilled again. And he believed Yi Bang-won would do well.
Yi Bang-won had rescued both mothers right after the Wi-hwa Island Retreat, killed Jeong Mong-ju to eliminate a major threat, and always stepped up to resolve political issues. Yi Bang-gwa thought no one matched him as king material and had long believed Yi Bang-won was the right choice. That was why he planned to hand over the throne.
Though Yi Bang-won politely declined the crown prince title a few times, he soon accepted. To uphold the principle of primogeniture, he requested to be made crown prince instead, not regent. Yi Bang-gwa agreed easily, noting he had no legitimate heir himself, so it posed no issue.
With the discussion concluded, Yi Bang-gwa summoned Yi Bang-gan, who prostrated himself and begged forgiveness. He had already been severely scolded by Yi Bang-gwa multiple times before Yi Bang-won arrived—for committing such an absurd act. After repeated reprimands, he realized how foolish he'd been. From the start, he'd known deep down from his time at Seonji-gyo that he could never defeat Yi Bang-won, no matter what. They hadn't crushed Jeong Do-jeon's faction and seized power overnight for nothing.
Yi Bang-gan begged Yi Bang-gwa to spare him, and Yi Bang-gwa told him to trust only him and keep begging. So now he groveled before Yi Bang-gwa.
"Since you've shown remorse, I'll exile you to Anshan. But how will you survive there? I'll grant you 50 households in Anshan as fief; live off those taxes for the rest of your days. Come to Gyeongseong on New Year's Day, and we'll share brotherly bonds. That's the least this brother can do."
Speaking thus, he glanced at Yi Bang-won, who nodded in agreement.
Deeply moved by Yi Bang-gwa's words, Yi Bang-gan shed tears, offered thanks, and soon returned home. Afterward, he took his clan to Anshan, while O Yong-gwon was exiled. Park Po was confirmed as the instigator who sowed discord between brothers and executed upon reaching his exile destination.
With everything settled, those who contributed were enfeoffed as meritorious retainers, and Yi Bang-won was clearly named crown prince to succeed the throne. Thus ended the Second Princes' Rebellion.
Min Mu-jil was recognized for his merits and enfeoffed as First-Rank Meritorious Retainer JinchungJwamyeong, appointed Minister of the Royal Secretariat. This was at Yi Bang-gwa's request; planning to abdicate to Yi Bang-won, he wanted his closest ally Min Mu-jil as minister. Yi Bang-won agreed, knowing it would make things much easier. And so Min Mu-jil now worked at the Chungchuwon.
Two months had already passed since the Second Princes' Rebellion ended, and it was now September. The outcomes were all finalized.
First, Yi Bang-gan was exiled to Anshan. Yi Bang-won saw him off on the way, and he reportedly thanked him for the surprisingly lenient punishment. Honestly, he should be grateful to Yi Bang-gwa. Without him, it wouldn't have been so mild.
Oh, and Park Po, who took full blame and died. Before exile, I gave him a drink. Couldn't do the makgeolli mist from dramas in my past life, so just a cup. I'd gotten Yi Bang-won's permission. He didn't mind, figuring it was his last journey.
After that, I got enfeoffed as first-rank retainer and the minister position. Huge merit fields too. Second- and third-rank got 40 and 20 plots, but first-rank was blatantly 100. Mine alone totals 250 plots. It's burdensome, so I work hard to justify it. Good thing they dropped the Yeemun Chunchu-gwan scholar role. Combining that would've meant nightly overtime.
I was working when Right Deputy Minister Hwang Hui arrived. What could it be?
The right deputy is Hwang Hui now. Yi Suk-beon got promoted to senior general, so Hwang Hui filled the spot. Yi Suk-beon didn't hold the provincial command concurrently, so he's not my equal. Good thing I don't run into him. I still hate the guy.
Anyway, Hwang Hui's right deputy because I recommended him. Wanted to test if he really works well. He'll end up chief state councillor when Yi Bang-won reforms Chungchuwon into Seungjeongwon anyway. Early experience isn't bad. And he does excel. As expected of that yellow cow.
Then Hwang Hui handed me a document.
"What is this?"
"Crown Prince's review of the personnel reorganization discussed at Dodang. He wants you to check it."
Yi Bang-won, newly crown prince, was reorganizing personnel. He usually handled most himself and just informed me, but this one he asked me to review. It was the Northeast Frontier proposal. That's why— I'd requested changes there, so he wanted my opinion.
Sure enough, Yi Mu and Jo On were listed. Seeing them made me chuckle. Right after Yi Bang-won became crown prince, Yi Seong-gye singled them out—the ones who betrayed him—and grilled Yi Bang-won: These guys betrayed me; think you won't? Yi Bang-won said he'd exile them temporarily, then pardoned them en route and appointed Yi Mu as Hwaryeong Prefecture Governor and Jo On as Northeast Frontier Commander. A jab at Yi Seong-gye.
Anyway, Yi Mu and Jo On are solid picks. They won't side with Yi Seong-gye. Jo Ja's lot got shipped to Chungcheong, all replaced with our people. Choi Yun-deok went to Northeast too. Yeah, you'll fight Jurchens there. Build northern experience now for later use.
Everything else looked appropriate. Yi Seong-gye could run to Northeast without major issues.
I reported to Yi Bang-won it was fine.
"Then approve as is. Oh, His Highness is hunting today—join him, Mu-jil. You've been buried in work, no falconry or hunts. Assist him and relax a bit."
Great news! I'd been itching to hunt.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Good. Leave the rest to the right deputy."
That was the plan. Let's work, Hwang Hui.
I got Yi Bang-gwa's approval on the proposal and joined the hunt. How many years since Jeolla with Yi Bang-won?
Yi Bang-gwa was truly skilled at hunting, unlike Yi Bang-won.
"You're quite good yourself."
"You're too kind, Your Highness."
"Hunt with me now and then. Can't just work endlessly. Loosen up like this."
"Yes, understood."
"Good."
Working as minister near Yi Bang-gwa, I see he's genuinely good-hearted. Incredibly gentle for a general who's fought countless battles. He truly has no interest in politics. I once suspected he feigned it, but no— he hates even thinking about headaches. Especially post-rebellion. He used to join lectures, now skips for hunts or polo, claiming age-weakened limbs. Lame excuse.
We hunted till dusk and wrapped up. Then Yi Bang-gwa gave another order: Yi Seong-gye had no appetite lately, so prepare dressed meat dishes. Yi Bang-won said I cooked well, to cheer the king. Such a filial son.
I cooked with the meat and brought it. Yi Bang-gwa tasted it, face lighting up.
"Bang-won was right. Delicious."
Suited his taste— I did well. My skills had surged lately. Past life prof made me decent, but Han Yeo-ul's pregnancy meant cooking her cravings daily, boosting me further. She wants a son; I'm indifferent.
Yi Bang-gwa, tasting, said,
"Now to serve Father. Come along, Minister."
"Pardon?"
"You made it; you should present it."
He'll flip if he knows it's me. Yi Seong-gye hates me.
Reading my mind,
"Father doesn't hate you that much. Come on."
Doubt it. But royal command—I followed to the upper king's palace and met Yi Seong-gye.
"Father, made from a deer I hunted myself. Please eat."
Yi Seong-gye scowled at me holding the food.
"What's that Bang-won dog's blade doing here?"
Not calling me dog, at least.
Yi Bang-gwa said,
"Minister made it himself. I tasted it—excellent."
"Did that Bang-won dog order it? Up to some scheme?"
"No, Father. I requested it."
Yi Seong-gye still despised Yi Bang-won. But he praised Yi Bang-gwa's sincerity.
"Our lord is best. Some fool gets drunk on power, mocks his father; another raises useless troops and gets exiled."
Former's Yi Bang-won, latter Yi Bang-gan.
Yi Bang-gwa said,
"Please forgive Bang-won a bit. He's still your son."
"Why would he be my son? Adopted by the lord now—not mine. Good riddance; I don't need such unfilial scum. Drop it. Thinking of that Bang-won ruins my appetite again. Remove it."
He pushed the tray away.
"Father..."
"Lord, know why I have no appetite? Look at my state. The guards Bang-won sent are spies, not protectors. How could I eat?"
Yi Bang-gwa teared up.
"I'll tell Bang-won to withdraw the guards. Please don't skip meals."
Yi Seong-gye wept.
"Only the lord matters. Always pure-hearted, never hurt me before or now. Yes, I'll eat."
Why choose Yi Bang-seok over him? Gotta ask someday.
But this... looks like using filial Yi Bang-gwa. No northern runs now anyway—that's after Yi Bang-won kings.
Eating my food,
"Not bad skill. Tasty. Bang-won dog's lucky—talented man like you serves as his blade."
Cursing Yi Bang-won but devouring my cooking. Seems Yi Bang-gwa was right; he doesn't hate me that much.
Yi Bang-gwa did convince Yi Bang-won to pull the guards. Yi Seong-gye roamed freely after, especially temples. We watched closely. One reason I got minister: this.
But he rampaged beyond expectations. Sneaking to Sinam Temple at night for prayers. So now, I'm off to fetch—er, escort—Yi Seong-gye.