Part 1: Yi Bang-won Summons Min Mu-jil Back to the Capital
Upon hearing that Min Da-yeon had stopped eating and was weeping in the queen's palace, Yi Bang-gwa immediately summoned Yi Bang-won.
"Your Highness the Supreme King. Were you looking for me?"
"Your Majesty, why are you trying to take another wife? Though I have no legitimate heir, my wife and I still live happily together. Don't you have legitimate sons as well? Moreover, the queen consort is the wife who stood by your side, helping you overcome hardships. You must not cast aside such a first wife so carelessly."
Yi Bang-gwa had initially intended not to intervene in this matter. But upon hearing that Min Da-yeon was fasting and weeping, he stepped in as one of the family's elders.
At those words, Yi Bang-won replied, "I have no intention of casting out the queen consort. It's merely a political issue."
"Even so, you are husband and wife. Must it come to this? I advise you to stop."
"Yes, Your Highness the Supreme King."
Yi Bang-won was quite flustered now that Min Da-yeon had gone so far as to refuse food. Though he had pursued this to establish strong royal authority, her fasting stirred guilt in him. With his respected eldest brother intervening as well, he decided it was best to back down. Besides, Min Da-yeon now seemed to heed Min Mu-jil's words. If she would listen to him from now on, there would be no cause for worry.
As he moved to leave after making that decision, an inner servant suddenly appeared and announced that Yi Seong-gye had arrived. Yi Bang-won and Yi Bang-gwa hurriedly made their way to him.
Upon seeing Yi Seong-gye, they asked, "Your Highness the Grand Supreme King. What brings you here?"
Yi Seong-gye glared at Yi Bang-won. "I've come to reprimand you."
"Your Highness the Grand Supreme King, what do you mean?"
"Bang-won, didn't you tell me I must properly honor Queen Jeolbi?"—Yi Bang-won had posthumously honored her as Shinui Gowanghu, but Yi Seong-gye thoroughly ignored it and called her Queen Jeolbi—"And yet here you are, treating your own first wife so poorly? It's impressive how you preach one thing to your father but do the opposite. Truly remarkable."
Yi Seong-gye openly mocked him, citing the old adage about cherishing one's first wife to scold Yi Bang-won. Of course, he had heard that tale from Min Mu-jil. Min Mu-jil always shared amusing stories, and Yi Seong-gye remembered them all faithfully. Now, this was a perfect chance to embarrass Yi Bang-won, and he made full use of it. He had always wanted to land a solid blow on him.
And it didn't sting him at all. Queen Gang was his own first wife, and he had treated her exceptionally well, so he felt fully qualified to point fingers.
"This is exactly why you won't do, Bang-won. Be a proper human being before you try being a king!"
With that, Yi Seong-gye concluded. Yi Bang-won, flustered, promised to stop. He had already decided to heed Yi Bang-gwa's advice, and now his father was piling on. Of course, inwardly he thought his father had no right to say such things.
Yi Seong-gye inwardly rejoiced at having thoroughly refuted Yi Bang-won, but soon added, "And why are you sending such a strange fellow to me? He's just like you—boring and unpleasant."
While Min Mu-jil was away in the north, Yi Bang-won had appointed his close friend Park Seok-myeong as the new envoy to Yi Seong-gye, instructing him like Min Mu-jil to always send greetings. But Yi Seong-gye hated it. There was no teasing wit like with Min Mu-jil, no amusement, and the man couldn't even make tasty food—just dull, tedious courtesy.
"Hurry and bring back that rascal Mu-jil like Sambong. I hear he's finished all his tasks, so why leave him stuck in the Northeast Command?"
"He hasn't completed everything yet."
"Do you know the Northeast better than I do? How dare you speak of it so arrogantly before me? Besides, aren't all your ministers urging you to recall him?"
Yi Seong-gye scolded Yi Bang-won once more. He knew no one in Joseon understood the Northeast better than he did, so he dismantled his arguments thoroughly.
Yi Bang-won couldn't retort. It was simply the truth. He had only kept Min Mu-jil there to protect him from harm.
After Yi Seong-gye spoke at length, Yi Bang-won relented. "Your Highness the Grand Supreme King, I will summon him soon. Please wait just a little longer."
"Fine, you brat."
With that, Yi Seong-gye turned to leave. When Yi Bang-won suggested sharing an evening meal, he snapped, "How could I eat facing your ugly mug?" and departed straight for Soyosan.
As he went, Yi Seong-gye thought, It's childish, but it feels good. He knew his own behavior was immature, but that was beside the point now. He was satisfied just to have scolded Yi Bang-won. And truthfully, he had missed Min Mu-jil. He craved the food that rascal made.
Pathetic that I'm content with something so trivial. It's all that Mu-jil's fault. When he returns, I'll torment him a bit.
With that resolve, Yi Seong-gye headed back to Soyosan, eagerly anticipating Min Mu-jil's cooking.
Meanwhile, after Yi Seong-gye left, Yi Bang-won chuckled softly.
"Why do you laugh, Your Majesty?"
"Father looks much better than before."
Yi Bang-won had worried Yi Seong-gye might plot revenge for Yi Bang-seok's death. But seeing him merely venting through childish nagging eased his concerns.
"Indeed, Father's expression has improved."
"It seems we must summon Mu-jil to the capital as Father wishes."
"Is state affairs in order, Your Majesty?"
"As Father said, the rest can be handled without Mu-jil. Better to bring him back to keep Father company and soothe the queen consort. I fear I can't manage her alone."
"Mu-jil is truly busy."
"Yes. Then, Your Highness the Supreme King, I'll take my leave. I'll follow your advice."
"Very well, Your Majesty."
Yi Bang-won parted from Yi Bang-gwa and promptly halted the garae ceremony. He then visited the queen's palace and saw Min Da-yeon. Her fasting and tear-streaked face brought tears to his eyes.
"Queen Consort—no, my wife."
But Min Da-yeon only wept, unresponsive. At that sight, Yi Bang-won said, "I will abolish the garae ceremony. And the Inner Palace shall be yours to manage as before."
Min Da-yeon turned her head. "Did you just call me 'wife'?"
"Yes, wife. I'll stop now. Please do the same and eat. I'll cherish you as I did in our private days. That's why I called you 'wife'."
Her heart softened slightly at his words, memories of their loving private life flooding back. But she wouldn't forgive him so easily—not after such a deep wound.
Then Yi Bang-won added, "The two women I took—Kim and Shin—I'll grant no titles without your permission. Please, let this end."
"Sometimes 'wife', sometimes 'queen consort'?"
"It means I'll cherish you as in private life and uphold your authority as queen. Forgive my poor words."
Min Da-yeon couldn't help but chuckle. The most eloquent man saying such things.
Yi Bang-won embraced her then, patting her back and expressing his remorse. Min Da-yeon wept copiously, releasing her pent-up grievances. When her tears subsided, he personally fed her the tarakjuk he had brought—just as he had in their private days when she was ill. Recalling those times, she ate eagerly.
Soon, Yi Bang-won held her hand and spoke sincerely—not of politics, but of women and other matters. Political talk could wait for Min Mu-jil, who handled it far better.
Listening, Min Da-yeon still felt aggrieved but softened somewhat, nostalgia for their private days stirring her. She realized Min Mu-jil was right: appealing with tears worked better on Yi Bang-won than anger.
Then Yi Bang-won said, "Now we must appoint the crown prince. We'll designate our firstborn, and send envoys to Ming."
"Is that true?"
"Who else but our firstborn? My desire for strong kingship is to leave him a better realm. And now seems the right time."
Yi Bang-won spoke of their son Yi Je. Both he and Min Da-yeon adored the boy, so he deliberately brought him up. It hit the mark perfectly; Min Da-yeon set aside her resentment and chatted animatedly about Yi Je, beaming broadly. Then, suddenly:
"Your Highness, I have a request."
"What is it?"
"When we appoint the crown prince, won't we establish the Sejasi-gangwon academy?"
"Yes."
"Appoint Mu-jil as its director."
"A fine idea, but not yet. Our son is still young and needs to learn rites first. We'll entrust it to Yangchon—Gwon Geun. Later, when he's older, we'll assign Mu-jil."
Yi Bang-won hoped Yi Je would grow into an exceptional crown prince to succeed him well. In time, he planned to teach him military and administrative knowledge, with Min Mu-jil as the ideal mentor—trustworthy and expert in practical affairs.
Min Da-yeon was delighted. It reassured her that Yi Bang-won cherished their son. And that he still trusted Min Mu-jil deeply. She had feared he might purge him too, but this eased her worries.
"Then summon Mu-jil. I miss him."
"Of course. But it will take time from the Northeast. In the meantime, don't skip meals. I beg you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
When Yi Bang-won mentioned Yi Seong-gye's whining for Min Mu-jil, Min Da-yeon burst into laughter. "Such a thing happened. Even the Grand Supreme King adores Mu-jil."
"He's amusing, isn't he? Oh, look at this."
It was a letter from Min Mu-jil, outlining plans to prevent smallpox outbreaks. Showing it, Yi Bang-won said, "Good news, but I asked the physicians, and they say it's impossible."
"Is that so?"
"Discuss it with Mu-jil, Queen Consort. He seems to send me only confirmed facts."
"Understood, Your Highness."
Yi Bang-won spent the night talking with Min Da-yeon, circling through topics until she fully reconciled. Though he felt it insufficient, he decided to leave the rest to Min Mu-jil.
Once Min Da-yeon ended her fast, he restored the palace ladies and maids, wrapping everything up. After abolishing garae, he quietly brought in Kwon as a concubine. Min Da-yeon was displeased but resolved to consult Min Mu-jil first. Better to heed his advice than act rashly.
Thus, the garae ceremony and purges, sparked by Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon's conflict, came to an end. It was January 15, 1402.
In court, Yi Bang-won announced he would summon Min Mu-jil back to the capital and ordered recommendations for successors.
Kim Sa-hyeong spoke. "Anseong Buwongun—Yi Suk-beon—would be suitable."
All agreed unanimously. Not for his ability, but because the arrogant Yi Suk-beon had grown even more insufferable lately. They saw a chance to remove him. His competence ensured smooth handover, but schadenfreude was the real motive. With Yi Suk-beon gone and Min Mu-jil returning, nothing could be better.
But Yi Bang-won rejected Kim Sa-hyeong's suggestion—not for lack of skill, but because he had another candidate in mind.
Ha Ryeon then proposed appointing Kim Han-ro as Northeast Northern Garrison Commander and Left Scribe Hwang Hui as Gyeongseong Deputy Commander. Yi Bang-won approved, as Kim Han-ro was exactly whom he intended to send.
Yi Bang-won planned to wed Kim Han-ro's daughter as crown princess, bypassing a Ming princess. A fellow exam graduate and close friend, his clan was weak in influence—perfect. Lacking merits, this would build them. With capable Hwang Hui assisting—the next best after Min Mu-jil—it would be flawless.
Thus, Yi Bang-won dispatched Kim Han-ro and Hwang Hui to the Six Garrisons. Upon their arrival, Min Mu-jil was to hand over duties and return to the capital. Less than six months after departing for the Northeast, he was coming home.