The Time Has Come
“Hahaha.” The fresh morning sunlight bathes me in its warmth. The fragrant scent of flowers rides the gentle spring breeze, tickling the tip of my nose. Yes, this is what a proper world should be like. This is what a righteous life looks like. A world where children can run and play to their hearts' content, living without a care! A world where one can cast off the burdens of labor and toil, rolling around in the corner of a room while patting one’s full belly! Look, even the smallest creature crawling on the ground is blessing my life like this.
“Woof woof!”
“Yes, yes, you’ve been well, haven’t you, Brownie?”
The last three years of life have been more than enough to satisfy my slacker life. I wake up late in the morning, eat a delicious breakfast prepared by Eonnyeon’s household, and then, to help with digestion, I shuffle outside to take a stroll around the neighborhood.
“Young Master! You’re here!”
“Oh, Aejung, is that you? Do you want a piece of candy?”
“Yes!”
As I walk down the path, a little thing comes waddling over as always, offering me a polite, deep bow. Her name is Aejung. Age: two. She is the daughter of Dori, the most famous slave in Hanyang. For reference, the moment King Seonjo’s order came down, Dori held his wedding as quickly as roasting beans in a lightning flash. He is the most expensive young slave ever sold in Hanyang. A man who can read, calculate, possesses great strength, and is quick-witted. He is the servant of the youngest son of Minister Heo Yeop and a man who even received silk from the King himself. With the emergence of this Alpha Slave who had snatched up every title imaginable, it’s said that all the eligible young slave women in Hanyang lined up for him.
However, Dori, a romantic of the era who understands true sentiment, rejected the advances of all those women and gave a jade ring to Kkotbun, his childhood sweetheart from the merchant guild. Kim Deoksu, who had secured a national project thanks to me, gladly let Kkotbun go, and thanks to my father also paying some attention to the matter, Dori is currently living well in a nearby thatched cottage as an oegeo-nobi (a slave living outside the master's house).
“Young Master, what brings you out? I was going to come fetch you later.”
“I just came out for a walk to help with digestion. Is Kkotbun doing well?”
“Yes, she is peaceful, aside from the second one in her belly kicking her tummy quite hard, which I suppose means it’s healthy.”
“That’s a relief. I’ll be playing with Aejung, so take your time getting ready.”
“Understood, Young Master. Aejung, your teeth will rot, so only one piece of candy a day!”
“Yes!”
Waiting for Dori, I sit on the edge of a rice paddy path with Aejung in my arms, a piece of candy in her mouth, and the world feels abundant once again. How beautiful it is. The paddies, having finished rice planting, are filled with water, reflecting the sky, and the neat rows of young rice plants bring peace to my mind and body just by looking at them. The frogs in the paddies and the sparrows in the sky sing together, ribbit-ribbit, chirp-chirp, cheering on my life of leisure. Stroking Aejung’s chubby cheeks and patting her soft hair, I felt that there was no paradise quite like this.
“Aejung, is it tasty?”
“Yes!”
“Good, good. Eat lots and grow up big and strong.”
As I poked her puffed-up cheeks with my finger, enjoying the pleasure of having no responsibilities, Dori came running toward me, looking ready to go.
“Young Master, shall we go?”
“Right. Aejung, take good care of your mother and stay well-behaved, okay? If you wait nicely, Father will give you another piece of candy tonight.”
“Yes!”
Seeing Aejung running back home, my heart felt warm again. We watched the back of the little thing for a long time, worried she might trip, and once she disappeared from sight, we began to move.
“Where shall I take you? Are you not going to the academy today?”
“No, my teacher is busy these days. And it’s the middle of the month, so it’s the day I go to the palace.”
“Ah, that’s right. Understood. Then I shall take you to the palace.”
In truth, I don’t go to the academy much these days. They say a dog that lives in a schoolhouse for three years can recite poetry, right? Three years have already passed, and since I’m not a schoolhouse dog, I’ve evolved into a scholar who can recite poetry. I’m still a long way off from the Analects or the Complete Works of Zhu Xi, but being able to read is enough, isn’t it? Above all, my teacher, Songok Yi Dal, is busy these days. Rumor has it he’s the top instructor in Hanyang, and the students lining up for the academy are overflowing. It means there’s no seat left even if I go. Therefore, my life lately is:
An elementary student who attends class three times a week, a salaryman who goes to work twice a month, and a jobless person who receives manuscript fees from the Hanyang merchant guild every month.
“General Yeo, thank you.”
Gratitude, overwhelming gratitude. Salute to General Yeo! Loyalty!! Offering sincere thanks to the General who blessed my life of leisure, I walked for a while and soon arrived at the palace. Leaving Dori outside and entering the palace, a boy about Aejung’s size came running toward me.
“Teacher!”
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
His name was Gwanghae, his personal name was Hon. It was Prince Gwanghae, Yi Hon.
“Ugh.”
“Your Highness, there is still a move you can make.”
“Is it this? No, it’s going to collapse.”
“Hon, you’re still no match for your older brother. Just give up and take a flick to the forehead.”
“Hmph! I will win!”
Prince Imhae and Prince Gwanghae sat facing each other with a desk in between, sparks flying from their eyes as they focused all their attention. It was a precarious tightrope walk. A sandcastle that would collapse with even the smallest mistake. And as if he had finally found the answer, Prince Gwanghae wiggled his small hands and pulled out a wooden block.
“I did it!! Now it’s your turn, Brother.”
“Ugh!!”
“You’re no match for me, Brother! Just give up and take a flick to the forehead.”
“Quiet! I will definitely find the answer. Just like the brave white hawk did.”
Watching the two people playing Jenga like that, a woman wore a warm smile.
“Royal Tutor, what kind of game is this?”
“It is called Jenga, Lady Gongbin. It means a dispute over choosing the right piece, and it is a game with tremendous effects on cultivating the concentration and patience of young princes.”
“A dispute over choosing the right piece. Indeed, that is true. It’s one thing for the grown Imhae, but this is the first time I’ve seen young Gwanghae focus like this. I was worried that the Royal Tutor was too young, but every time you come, you bring such mysterious things that your knowledge is truly astonishing.”
“You are too kind, Lady Gongbin.”
It’s nothing special. The princes’ studies are all handled by the Office of Royal Education, and I was just wondering what I should do when I went there, so I ended up making a few board games to play together, and the reaction was surprisingly good. Jenga for concentration, Halli Galli for reflexes, Squid Game for physical training. What a great excuse that is. The princes are happy to play instead of doing boring studies, and I’m happy to get a free ride—I suppose this is what living together in harmony is all about. Oh, and by the way, Gongbin didn’t die. I had been worried about how to manage that troublemaker Prince Imhae if Gongbin died, but no matter how long I waited, she didn’t die. I heard she bathes with soap in water infused with sweet flag every night because it makes her skin better, so perhaps that’s the influence? Hygiene is the best.
Anyway, thanks to that, Prince Imhae grew up receiving King Seonjo’s attention and his mother’s love, growing from a world-class brat into a moderately arrogant kid, and the same goes for Prince Gwanghae.
“Found it! This is it, this is it!”
“Ugh! How!!”
“Little brother, do you see the tower shaking? If you can see it, then quietly offer your forehead. If you surrender now, I’ll hit you lightly, so.”
“Waaaaah, Mother!! Teacher!!”
“Hon, a prince must not shed tears so easily. Stop!”
“Your Highness, accepting the results is also a quality of a prince. You can just try again next time.”
“Hmph... Hmph... I lost.”
“Hahaha!! Today, too, I have taken one step closer to Confucius’s benevolence. Little brother, keep practicing.”
“Waaaaaaaaaah!!”
Thwack! A flick of justice landed on Prince Gwanghae’s forehead, and Prince Gwanghae, who had been shedding tears like chicken droppings while appealing his unfairness, fell into Gongbin’s arms as always.
“There, there. Now that your studies are over, let’s go eat some delicious candy. I’ve already told the Royal Kitchen. If you go up to Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and enjoy the cool breeze while eating sweet candy and sweet cinnamon punch, you’ll feel better.”
“Sniff, yes, Mother. Brother is mean, so only give him one.”
I see. With this, today’s mission is also over. I had a good free ride. Burp.
“Then I shall take my leave, Lady Gongbin.”
“Ah... Won’t you come with... No, never mind. My heart wants to keep the Royal Tutor here for some tea, but I cannot hold back someone as busy as you. To be so busy with public and private affairs at such a young age, you are truly remarkable.”
“Pardon?”
What is this about? Why am I busy? I’m not busy at all. Should I just eat and go? No. I’ve heard that eating with parents is quite difficult. There’s plenty to eat outside, so why bother.
“Haha, thank you for your concern. Then I shall take my leave.”
“Yes, Royal Tutor. Everyone, say goodbye?”
“Goodbye, Teacher!”
“Come again next time, Teacher!”
“Yes, Your Highnesses. Then, farewell.”
I was about to close the door to the palace quarters when I heard a strange sound from behind.
“Hmph, how can someone live so diligently at that age? I heard from the King that he’s starting another project this time. Well, he must be that kind of person to have become a Royal Tutor at the age of six. The princes should also learn by watching the Royal Tutor’s example. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
What is this? I’m not doing anything? As I was leaving the palace, for some reason, my body felt chilled and I started coughing.
“Achoo.”
“Dori, let’s eat lunch before we go in.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Let’s go to the tavern we went to before. For some reason, my body feels cold, so I want to eat something hot. And pack a bowl of samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) to go so Kkotbun can have some health food.”
“Oh, thank you very much.”
As usual, I walked to the marketplace with Dori. When your body feels weak, the best thing to do is to have a bowl of hot samgyetang and sleep like a log at home. And just as I was about to enter the tavern I frequented, I heard a familiar voice calling me.
“Young Master! How have you been?”
“Oh? Guild Master... no, you’re the Guild Manager, right? Congratulations on your promotion.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you, Young Master. Did you come to eat? I shall serve you.”
“Oh, that’s alright.”
“Haha, if you refuse, I’ll lose face. Who do you think helped the Hanyang merchant guild grow this big? Come, I will serve you, so please come this way.”
“Ah... thank you. Dori, let’s go in.”
And so, the young master of a noble house, the manager of the Hanyang merchant guild, and the most talented slave in Hanyang sat at one table and happily tore into chicken legs. How much did we eat? Just as my stomach was full and I was feeling drowsy, and the blood sugar spike was mercilessly ravaging my body, Kim the Manager, who had been glancing at me, spoke up.
“By the way, how have you been lately? You’re not too busy, are you?”
“Yes, I’m living peacefully. I wish it would stay like this lately.”
“Haha, that is truly a relief. In that case, it will be easy to bring it up. It is nothing else, but I think the time has finally come.”
“Pardon? The time for what?”
Kim Deoksu said: