Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Heartwarming Laughter Filled the Fragrant Far Pavilion
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For a good long while, heartwarming laughter flowed out from the Fragrant Far Pavilion.
King Seonjo, Yi Yeon.
Born as the third son of Grand Prince Hyeon, Yi Cho—who himself was the third son of Grand Prince Deokheung, the eighth son of King Jungjong—just from his lineage, you could tell he was never meant to be king. He was the first collateral-line monarch in Joseon history.
But whether you call it heaven's grace or heaven's abandonment, an unexpected opportunity fell into Seonjo's lap. He was someone who would have otherwise lived out his days as an ordinary collateral prince, idling away in leisure.
Joseon's twelfth king, King Injong, died young at thirty without leaving an heir. King Myeongjong, who inherited the throne from his brother Injong, barely managed to appoint a crown prince through adoption, but even that boy died at just twelve. Then Myeongjong himself succumbed to a fatal illness shortly after turning thirty. In the blink of an eye—or as the saying goes, "the day after tomorrow"—the royal line faced total extinction.
With the house of kings in crisis, they hurriedly scouted young princes from the collateral lines, but even that fell short.
Blood will tell, it seems. The sons of King Jungjong, just like Injong and Myeongjong, were all frail and died young, leaving no heirs of their own. They had to adopt from a distant fifth cousin's family just to keep the line going.
In such dire straits, there weren't even any candidates to argue over.
The only options at the top of the collateral hierarchy were Grand Prince Haryeong and Grand Prince Haseong. But Haryeong was already too old to begin imperial tutelage properly. So Grand Prince Haseong, Yi Yeon, ascended the throne in a flash—like roasting beans in lightning.
Ascension at age sixteen.
A collateral prince who had received neither proper heir training nor imperial education.
With no legitimacy to speak of and his abilities unproven, Queen Dowager Insun—who didn't even know Hanja—had to act as regent. It wasn't an overreaction to worry that one misstep could doom the kingdom.
But then a miracle happened.
Why is the kid doing so well?
No sooner had he taken the throne than he brought out the aces of the era one after another—YI I of Chestnut Valley, Ryu Seong-ryong, Yun Du-su, Jeong Cheol, Gi Dae-seung—and beefed up his cabinet in an instant. He pitted his ministers against each other in bloody factional infighting, strengthening his shaken royal authority in the process. Then he turned that power on the in-laws meddling in government, purging them one by one.
All in just seven months.
That was how long it took for Queen Dowager Insun, watching from behind, to think, Hey, our Seonjo's got game? and step down from the regency.
How was that even possible?
Seonjo is infamous alongside Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun as one of Joseon's tyrant kings. But if there's one ability everyone agrees on, it's his foresight.
"Your Majesty, the Jurchens in the north are slipping across the border to raid us, taking advantage of winter."
"How many are there?"
"Just a few hundred for now, but as the cold and hunger of winter set in for real, we expect their numbers to grow."
"Hmm, the north... We need to prepare in advance. Who's available... Ah! Wasn't that guy from the last military exam posted up north?"
"Who do you mean...?"
"Shin Rip. He looked promising back then—big build, sharp eyes that screamed talent. Scribe, take note: Appoint Shin Rip as Acting Commander of the Capital Defense Command and temporarily promote him to Magistrate of Hamgyong Province. Have him prevent this Jurchen incursion."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, Shin Rip is only an eighth-grade military officer. It's only been five years since he entered service. Promoting him straight to fifth-grade Acting Commander seems premature."
"That's exactly why we need to promote him now. If he's stuck at eighth-grade, how long will it take to climb through commander, inspector, and prefect before reaching provincial commander? To make proper use of him, he needs to be at least a provincial military commander. Tsk."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
"Quiet. There isn't anyone else up to the task, so appoint Shin Rip as Acting Commander. We're not just handing him a sinecure—he'll brave the northern cold, risk his life fighting the Jurchens. How can you oppose it without reason? If you're so keen, go north in his place yourself, Minister."
"..."
As the audience chamber fell silent in an instant, Seonjo pressed his fingers to his furrowed brow as if nursing a headache.
From morning till evening, day in, day out, year-round without a single break—this grind was enough to conjure ailments out of thin air. No wonder his predecessors passed so young.
"What's next? My head hurts; I want a break, so make it quick."
"Yes, Your Majesty. A plague is spreading in Chungju, Chungcheong Province. The magistrate has rallied local physicians and opened the granaries to combat it, but it's beyond their means. They've requested aid."
"Scribe, take note. Notify the Royal Medical Academy to select physicians to dispatch to Chungju. Coordinate with Hanseong's herbalists to gather medicine. Leader of the team: Deputy Director Heo Jun. All decisions on-site are his. If he quells the outbreak and stabilizes Chungju, promote him to third-grade Director of the Royal Medical Academy afterward. Make that clear."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, Heo Jun has only been at the Royal Medical Academy for four years. Reaching fourth-grade in four years was unprecedented enough; now third-grade? Please reconsider..."
"Then you go to Chungju in his place and handle the plague, Minister. We're not just giving it away—he'll risk his life in a plague zone curing the sick. How can you oppose that?!"
"..."
"Is that everything now?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Whew... Finally done.
Drained from the endless morning audience, Seonjo waved his hand to signal its end.
"Chief Minister. My head aches; I need to walk it off."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Where to?"
"Let's head to the Fragrant Far Pavilion. I want some fresh air."
"Understood. You there—tell the Royal Kitchen to send refreshments to the Fragrant Far Pavilion."
"Yes, Chief Minister."
Breathing in the crisp winter air as he made his way to the pavilion, Seonjo heard what sounded like a child's bright, tinkling voice already coming from within, as if guests had arrived ahead of him.
"The elder must love the young, and the young must respect the elder! 'The worthy treat the young with affection, and the young honor their elders!'"
"Haha, is that so?"
"Yes! Thus, respect for elders is the way of the world, and it aligns with propriety!"
"Impressive, Your Highness."
Jin?
Seonjo cocked his head at the sight of his son and tutor looking remarkably harmonious.
"It seems Prince Jin is studying, Your Majesty. With Minister Park Hae-seok. Shall we approach?"
"Hmm, let's watch a bit longer."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
An unfamiliar scene sparked interest in Seonjo's eyes.
"'Meet friends through learning, and aid virtue through friendship! Befriend the upright, and you shall become upright yourself!' Gather friends with scholarship, and let friends aid your virtue. Befriending the righteous makes you righteous in turn! This is benevolence!"
"Truly impressive, Your Highness. I can hardly wait for the day you wield these virtues in practice."
"Heehee. Thank you, Teacher."
Observing the pair at their studies, Seonjo's eyes suddenly lit up.
Something's there.
In truth, Seonjo had little interest in Prince Imhae.
Father-son bonds are natural, but Seonjo had never truly experienced fatherhood, so he couldn't grasp it.
His father, Grand Prince Deokheung, fell ill soon after his birth and died at twenty-nine. He was then adopted by his great-uncle Grand Prince Bokseong—but that was merely to continue the line, and Bokseong had long since passed. Later, on the verge of royal extinction, King Myeongjong adopted him too, only to die shortly after.
Changing fathers three times without ever knowing one—even Lu Bu would yield to that.
So Seonjo viewed Prince Imhae through his own lens, not paternal affection. After witnessing the boy's arrogance and volatility, he lost interest entirely.
He simply lacked the makings of a king.
Yet...
His long-lost son seemed surprisingly capable now.
Seonjo stepped into the Fragrant Far Pavilion.
"Jin, studying hard?"
"Father! You've come!"
Seonjo was taken aback anew as Prince Imhae sprang up and rushed over with bright eyes.
Where had those dull, vacant eyes gone? This spark was something else.
His sitting posture had been impeccable, and his bow was textbook perfect.
"Your Majesty, this is your servant Park Hae-seok."
"Good work, Minister Park. How's Jin doing?"
"Haha, splendidly. He's already mastered the Thousand Character Classic and grasps the Elementary Learning."
"Really? Jin, studying so diligently?"
"Yes! I'm cultivating propriety, broadening benevolence, and practicing loyalty! Teacher and I are learning the Five Classics of Confucius!"
"Ho ho."
And what's this now?
Just days ago, this was the kid throwing tantrums in laps, puffing cheeks, and acting spoiled. Now he appeared a proper crown prince. Could a person change like that?
Pondering every last detail of Prince Imhae's transformation from head to toe, Seonjo was interrupted by the arrival of refreshments from the Royal Kitchen.
"Your Majesty, refreshments from the Royal Kitchen..."
"Bring them here. We'll have them with the crown prince."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As the treats were laid out in the pavilion, Prince Imhae—unlike usual, not clambering into a lap—sat primly beside Seonjo and picked up a small honey cookie.
"What's this?"
"Please have it! 'If you obtain delicious food, offer it first to your parents!' This is propriety!"
"...Do you truly believe that?"
"Yes! Father!"
"I see..."
Something pricked at Seonjo's chest.
A faint itch spread through his body, and a warm surge rose within.
But it wasn't unpleasant.
Taking the cookie from Prince Imhae, Seonjo ruffled his hair fondly and said,
"Alright, I'll enjoy it. You have one too!"
"Yes! Thank you, Father!"
"And... after refreshments, Minister Park, see me privately."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
For a good long while, heartwarming laughter flowed out from the Fragrant Far Pavilion.
"What happened? Jin's changed so much."
"Haha, a fortuitous connection, Your Majesty."
"Connection?"
"Yes. Do you recall Heo Yeop's third son, Heo Gyun?"
"That boy... Yes, I do. Sharp kid. One of the most promising I've met lately."
"Indeed. Thanks to him, Your Highness has transformed. Take a look at this book."
After the refreshments, Minister Park Hae-seok—summoned to Seonjo—pulled a single volume from his robes instead of a long explanation.
"Heroine White Plum and the Little Prince?"
"Yes. A fairy tale written by Heo Gyun for His Highness. Its content is so rich and substantial, it could serve as material for the Nourishment Bureau—no, even better."
"What? He was supposed to write Culinary Duel: Jang Geum, not sneak off to write this! If he had time for this, he should've cranked out volume three already!! Hey! Scribe, don't record that!!"
"Haha, just read it first. It's quite engaging."
"Fine... Give me a moment."
Page by page, Seonjo reacted with gasps—Gah! How clever! A wild horse? Ah!—until the final page, when he wailed aloud.
"Culinary Duel: Jang Geum!!"
As Seonjo spaced out briefly, Minister Park continued.
"Isn't it marvelous? The writing is fine, but the knowledge inside is profound. It goes beyond rote principles, converting them into numerical logic and problems."
"Hmm... Indeed. These are tougher than anything from my Hall of Lectures."
He'd rated the boy highly based on spirit and spark alone last time, but the actual skill exceeded expectations.
Another talent to lead Joseon had emerged.
But his age... Five? No, turning six this year... Damn it, when will he grow up enough to use?
Reading Seonjo's eyes, Minister Park proposed,
"That's why I suggest appointing him as playmate and royal tutor."
"Royal tutor?"
"Yes—for future princes and princesses, as friend and teacher. He's too young for office, but this way, even the ministers won't object. We could also submit it to the National Academy to bring him into the palace early."
"Ah... Excellent idea. Talents like this must be put to work sooner rather than later."
At that moment, Heo Gyun—who'd been lounging belly-up at home—let out a massive sneeze.
"Pfft-choo!"