Part 1: The Brewing Rift Between Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon
So I headed to the Royal Academy to see Yi Bang-won, but waited outside for the time being. A royal lecture was in progress, after all.
Yi Bang-won wasn't conducting these lectures out of some noble sense of duty, as if the king of Joseon had to diligently participate in scholarly exams. He was a king who largely neglected such formalities himself. No, the real reason now was to demonstrate that his Confucian knowledge rivaled that of the examiners themselves—to prove he was a prepared and capable ruler. And indeed, he was dominating them with his erudition. No wonder he'd passed the civil service exam at just seventeen.
As I waited, the lecture finally ended, and the examiners filed out. Their expressions told the story—they'd been thoroughly bested by Yi Bang-won again today.
Stepping inside, I found him with a deeply satisfied look on his face. His eyes soon turned to me.
"Well, what brings you here, Inspector?"
I relayed Min Da-yeon's message. He sighed.
"Tell her I'll come later. She'd only shout empty threats right now anyway. You know the queen consort's temperament well enough, don't you, Inspector?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Min Da-yeon's temperament... God, was she really going to storm the Royal Academy or even the throne room? Nah, she wouldn't stoop that low, right? I couldn't be sure.
He looked at me again.
"Mu-jil, you have my sympathies dealing with the queen consort."
At least he acknowledged it.
"Speaking of which, Rank Division Inspector Park Eun sent word this morning. I need to see him—come along."
The Rank Division was a newly established intelligence organization, headed by the Rank Division Inspector, a third-grade official. Park Eun wasn't my recommendation; Yi Bang-won had selected him personally. In any case, it was essentially the king's direct secret service—more accurately, a spy network. I'd strongly advocated for it to gather proper intelligence on Ming, the Jurchens, and Japan, and to conduct operations when needed, and Yi Bang-won had eagerly agreed. Truth be told, it had started as a covert unit under Yi Bang-gwa's brief reign, formalized once Yi Bang-won took the throne.
Its primary focus for intelligence gathering and operations? The Jurchens. Ming intel was crucial too, but nothing matched the obsession with the Jurchens. And now, results had come in. I wondered if they were satisfactory.
"First, go tell the queen consort. Say I have urgent state affairs and will visit later."
"Yes, Your Highness."
So I went back to Min Da-yeon. She exploded in anger.
"What kind of monumental state affair could this be?!"
"It's a matter concerning Ming."
That shut her up. Ming was always the magic word. Back when Zhu Yuanzhang ruled, it ended all arguments outright, but even without him, Great Ming diplomacy was too vital to dismiss—still a spell of sorts. Especially now, with envoys requesting investiture, a royal seal, and tribute bearers dispatched.
Ming issues concerned everyone, so Min Da-yeon had no choice but to hold her tongue. She was sharp enough to know that. Of course, we weren't actually discussing Ming—it was Jurchens—but she had no way to verify, and mentioning Jurchens inevitably tied back to Ming anyway. Not entirely untrue.
"Mu-jil, stay up all night if you must and bring His Highness to me swiftly. Understood?"
"I was hoping to—"
"Are you defying me right now?"
"No, ma'am. I'll do my best."
Damn, couldn't even finish a sentence. Back to Yi Bang-won I went, where not only Park Eun but Hwang Hui waited too. Me, Park Eun, Hwang Hui—the king's innermost circle. Add Yi Suk-beon, Ha Ryeon, Min Mu-gu, Sin Geuk-rye, Jo Yeong-mu, and you'd have the full roster. But for spy matters like this, it was just us three. Actually, on second thought, Hwang Hui and I were involved in everything.
I briefed Yi Bang-won on Min Da-yeon's reaction.
"Well done, Inspector. Now that you're here, let's begin."
We reviewed Park Eun's latest Jurchen intelligence. The details were staggering—truly impressive. Even Yi Bang-won was floored.
"Rank Division Inspector, you've outdone yourself."
"Not at all, Your Highness."
How could we not marvel? They'd mapped the movements of ten Jurchen tribes north of the Tumen River, down to household counts and even individual members. In this era? Madness. I stared at Park Eun in awe.
"Our field agents did their job properly."
Field agents—the elite scouts who infiltrated enemy territory in person. Originally Sejong's creation, but we'd accelerated it. And the results were phenomenal.
Yi Bang-won beamed, positively glowing.
"This is exactly what I wanted. Inspector, I'll fund whatever you need—keep monitoring the Jurchens this closely."
"Yes, Your Highness. And there's Ming news too."
"What is it?"
"Zhu Ti has captured Deokju and is besieging Jenan. But resistance is fiercer than expected; Zhu Ti's struggling."
He added that, despite over a month of relentless assaults, they hadn't budged.
"Who commands Jenan?"
"Cheol Hyeon, Your Highness. We confirmed during the last envoy mission that he was dispatched there."
"Hm. The capable general you praised, Inspector. Zhu Ti excels in logistics, yet he's held off this long—your words ring true. If the siege drags on, the tide might indeed turn toward Zhu Yunwen, as you predicted."
"We'll see. The battlefield isn't just there."
"True, Inspector. Wise counsel."
With solid intel, decisions came swiftly. That's why information was king.
We debated deep into the night until Yi Bang-won spoke.
"You must be hungry. Let's continue over drinks."
"Yes, Your Highness."
He summoned inner servants for liquor and appetizers. Yi Bang-won often drank when his thoughts stalled—it sharpened his mind, he claimed. I'd been hitting the bottle more myself lately, thanks to stress. Mostly just us two, though. I'd pegged him as the iron-fisted lord, but up close in this world, he loved his booze.
As we drank, he grabbed a snack.
"Not bad, but nothing beats your cooking, Inspector. Right, Rank Division Inspector? Word is you eat at his place constantly."
Park Eun flushed awkwardly. Fair point, though.
Suddenly, footsteps approached. What now? An inner servant announced.
"Her Majesty the Queen Consort..."
Min Da-yeon? Why?
"Inner servant, announce me."
"His Highness is—"
"Then I'll announce myself! Your Highness, I have words for you!"
Yi Bang-won sighed.
"Queen Consort, we'll talk later. Return now."
"What business keeps you from seeing your desperate wife? Surely not state affairs?"
"It is. Go."
"Then I'll wait outside."
Footsteps retreated. Waiting outside? Man, Min Da-yeon was unhinged. Pure protest—she'd spotted the drinks and lost it. No talk with her, just boozing. She was a terror when pissed.
"Hah."
Yi Bang-won's sigh dripped fury.
"Forgive me, but you should go. We've covered today's business; we can formalize in court later. Rank Division Inspector, Left Scribe Hwang Hui—prepare accordingly."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Inspector, escort the queen consort, then assist them. And keep this confidential."
"Yes, Your Highness."
We dispersed to our tasks. To Min Da-yeon, I said:
"His Highness summons you."
"Mu-jil, we'll talk later. This reeks of your doing."
Me? Why me? She entered; I got back to work.
Meanwhile, Yi Bang-won glared at Min Da-yeon. She'd barged in, embarrassing him. He held back only because his three loyalists would keep it quiet.
"What is this outrage, Queen Consort?"
"Did I intrude where I'm unwelcome? I'm not like Gang Clan, crashing policy debates."
"I said it was state affairs. Why pull this?"
"I was that desperate."
Min Da-yeon seethed over the drinking amid "state affairs," blaming me—lately, Yi Bang-won and I always drank together. But his avoidance stung deeply.
"Your Highness, I've lived for you alone. How could you?"
"Queen Consort, I love you truly. But a king bedding palace maids isn't a crime."
"What? That's not the only issue! Why move to the Royal Academy and ignore me?"
"That's it? The maids are the problem?"
"Was that proper?"
Yi Bang-won bristled but restrained himself.
"Queen Consort, a king is above such propriety. Enjoying women is no shame."
"A king is still a gentleman. Gentlemen seek a principal wife's consent for concubines—why not you?"
"I said kings and gentlemen differ!"
"Rites do not."
"Kings rule; gentlemen serve. They differ, so do the rites!"
"Why rage so?"
"Enough. I needn't teach you Confucianism."
"I can't stop."
"Queen Consort..."
"I've aided your throne, mobilized my clan fully. Yet upon ascending, you discard me like trash for other women?"
"I've thanked you endlessly. Have I slighted your family? Spoiled you with the finest goods and foods first?"
"Does that matter when you seek others? Why treat me so?"
"Enough."
"I can't. My clan staked everything—how can you?"
"Queen Consort!"
Yi Bang-won bellowed; she matched him. Shouts escalated until he stormed out to the Royal Academy, leaving her sobbing on the floor.
The next day, Yi Bang-won gritted through court, handling business flawlessly before dismissing the academy in exhaustion.
Meanwhile, Min Da-yeon summoned me. I headed to the queen's palace, tense. That "later" talk hung ominously—would she grill me like a rat again?
Inside, she was crying.
"Your Majesty?"
"Mu-jil."
She recounted yesterday's fiasco. Honestly, Yi Bang-won was in the wrong on the women. Sure, Yi Seong-gye's pressures and reforms frayed his nerves, and he vented via palace maids—but from her view, it hurt.
I couldn't say that outright; it'd be begging for my purge. I'd braced for blame, but she just wanted to vent?
"Mu-jil, how could he? Our clan made his throne possible—yet he treats me like this!"
Dangerous words. Implying we put him there? Scraping his pride raw.
"Your Majesty, please mind such talk."
She glared.
"What? Am I wrong?!"
"No... His Highness is on edge from state burdens. Bear with it a little."
True. Yi Seong-gye had just demanded scrapping the anti-Buddhist policies—pure provocation. That stress was massive.
But...
"Only I bear it? Is that for a brother to say?!"
Life was brutal. Quit and retire? No—duties first. Can't possess as a slave next time.
I soothed her as best I could, then pulled an all-nighter at the Office of Special Counselors—Yi Bang-won had ordered me there. Come night, good news: Ha Ryeon had secured investiture from Ming and would return tomorrow. Zhu Yunwen delivered. His letter confirmed we'd gotten everything requested. Special treatment for Yi Bang-won—and Min Da-yeon too.