Setting Out
For several days, a suffocating tension hung over the royal palace.
It was the aftermath of the incident at Sungyeongdang.
Chwiseondang was equally hushed. The King, who had promised to return within a few days, never came. It was only natural, of course; with his infant son having narrowly escaped poisoning, he could hardly be seen casually visiting a royal consort's quarters.
Though the truth had been buried with the death of Court Maid Gwon, her suicide had resolved nothing. The palace maids of Sungyeongdang were thrust into the center of a raging bloodbath. Court Lady Yoon, along with the attendants and royal nannies, was dragged off to the State Tribunal to undergo brutal interrogation. The interrogators demanded to know if they had conspired with Court Maid Gwon.
Only after Consort Suk-ui Bak dragged her ailing body to Daejeon and tearfully begged the King for mercy were the terrified women finally released.
First the fire at Chwiseondang, and now the bloody purge at Sungyeongdang. Every palace maid was paralyzed with dread. Days dragged on as if walking on thin ice.
My own mind had been plunged into turmoil. The grim atmosphere pervading Chwiseondang caused an unnameable dread to creep into my chest. What if the King never visited Chwiseondang again? What if, consumed by unbearable anxiety, Jang Hui-bin ultimately erected a shaman shrine to curse Queen Inhyeon? What if history simply followed its preordained path, dragging Hui-bin and all of us at Chwiseondang to our deaths?
A few cheerless days slipped by in that cloud of dread.
“Hwang Bong-bong! Are you going to lie around moping forever?”
Early in the morning, Seol-hyang’s voice rang out with unusual vigor as she yanked the quilt clean off me.
“Just a little longer, Hamanim…” I mumbled, curling in on myself.
“No! Bong-bong, how long are you going to keep that gloomy mug on? You're Chwiseondang’s little bundle of blessings, and with you dragging your feet, everyone else has lost their spirit! Where did our sunny, smiling Bong-bong go, hm?”
“Umm…”
Had I really been that obvious? Had I wandered around looking that utterly despondent these past few days? Guilt pricked my heart at the sight of Seol-hyang trying so hard to lift my spirits. Forcing the corners of my mouth upward, I beamed at her with all the cheer I could muster.
“I’m totally fine. Did something happen?”
Only then did a wide grin break across Seol-hyang’s face.
“Aiya, look at our clever little trickster. You might be pint-sized, but you're as slippery as an old snake. Anyway, Bong-bong! Hurry up and wash your face so we can get dressed!”
Washing, dressing, eating breakfast, and beginning daily palace duties was the standard routine. Yet something seemed off. Why was Seol-hyang so suspiciously excited?
“I drew warm water! Wash up, quick, quick!”
Caught in her grasp, I endured the splash of warm water and even the indignity of having my nose loudly blown into a cloth. The moment I patted my face dry and reached for my customary court maid jacket, Seol-hyang snatched it out of my hands.
“Not that one. You're wearing this today. This!”
“Huh?”
I blinked blankly at the garments she held up.
I had never seen them before in my life. It was definitely not the uniform of a palace maid. It was the sort of attire an ordinary child might wear—or rather, a far more luxurious version than any commoner could ever dream of: a blush-pink jacket paired with a pale, sky-blue skirt.
“What is all this?”
“What do you think? It's yours.”
“…Mine?”
“That's right. It's a special gift from Hui-bin-jaga. She felt awful seeing you look so terrified amidst all the recent chaos.”
My eyes widened as I took in the fine, shimmering fabric.
“Feel it. It's genuine silk. The finest grade, imported all the way from the Qing Dynasty.”
“Whoa…”
Was this what they called gossamer silk? The impossibly smooth, melting texture I had only ever felt on Hui-bin’s own sleeves slipped like cool water across my fingertips.
“And that's not all! Take a look at these!”
Seol-hyang proudly brandished a dainty, gem-studded hair ribbon ornament for the crown of my head and a miniature decorative norigae made for a child.
All of this is mine?
I had always prided myself on being free of worldly greed, but after seeing nothing but dull court maid uniforms for so long, the sight of brand-new, colorful silk made my eyes light up.
“Come on, let’s get you dressed!”
Seol-hyang shook out the jacket.
“Wait, why am I wearing this right now?”
“Why do you think?” Grinning from ear to ear as if bursting with joy, Seol-hyang tapped my shoulder. “Because today, our little lucky charm and I are going outside the palace!”
“An outing? Outside?”
My jaw dropped.
“Yes! I already received permission from Hui-bin-jaga and Han Sang-gung, and I even have our exit passes in hand. Did you forget? Today is my official day off!”
“Ah…”
Only then did I remember. Seol-hyang had volunteered to stay on duty during New Year's Day so that she could take her leave today to visit her family home.
“So hurry up and put it on. While we're out, we can tour the grand marketplace and eat all sorts of delicious treats!”
An excursion beyond the palace walls.
My head spun in disbelief. Ever since reincarnating into this Joseon world as Hwang Bong-bong, I had never stepped a single foot outside the palace grounds. The sum total of my daily travel was trekking back and forth between Chwiseondang and Jeoseungjeon. The farthest journeys I had ever taken were walks through the Rear Secret Garden or the occasional errand to Huijeongdang.
That’s right… I was so consumed by survival that I completely forgot there’s an entire outside world…
My brief daze evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming surge of excitement. My heart hammered against my ribs at the thought of finally seeing the world beyond the palace gates. Not the towering, stifling splendor of royal halls, but the vibrant, humble lives of ordinary folk. Curiosity clawed at me so fiercely I could barely stand still.
And besides, if I was going out anyway…
I scurried over to Court Lady Han.
“Han Sang-gung-mamanim!”
“Well now, look at our Bong-bong. Dressed like that, you look just like a daughter from a noble house.”
Court Lady Han gazed down at my pink jacket and sky-blue skirt with a thoroughly pleased, grandmotherly expression.
“Hehe, thank you. But, Mamanim… Since I'm going outside, I was hoping I could stop by my family home.”
“Your home…? But as you well know, there is no one living there anymore.”
“I know, but… I’m still a tiny bit curious…”
Seeing my voice trail off into hesitation, Court Lady Han’s eyebrows furrowed with gentle sympathy. She clearly assumed I was missing my lost family. In truth, I wasn't homesick—I was purely investigative.
“So… could you tell me where my old house is? I can't remember the way very well…”
“Of course, child. I shall give Seol-hyang the exact directions.”
“Thank you so much, Mamanim!”
This was a golden opportunity. Ever since the King dropped that cryptic hint about the Cheok bloodline, questions about my true heritage had nagged at the back of my mind. Visiting the physical place called ‘Hwang Bong-bong’s house’ was worth a shot. With any luck, I might uncover a clue.
“I'll be on my way now!”
“Wait, Bong-bong, take this. Hui-bin-jaga instructed me to give it to you.”
“Oh…!”
The moment Court Lady Han pressed a small silk pouch into my hands, the distinct, weighty clink told me everything. This wasn't sugar candy, nor was it honey pastry or taffy. These were real, solid copper coins!
Money!
I have actual cold, hard cash!
“Thank you so very much!” I shouted at five times my normal volume, bowing at a crisp, deferential ninety-degree angle with my hands clasped over my belly button.
“Bong-bong, let's go!”
“Yes, Hamanim!”
Trailing closely behind Seol-hyang, who was now dressed in neat civilian clothes, I trotted toward the gates. Where were we bound? Out into the world beyond the palace walls!
Little did I suspect, as my new floral silk shoes carried me past the palace thresholds, that the outside world was home to an astonishing variety of completely unhinged lunatics.
Seol-hyang and I had to walk a considerable distance. Past Changgyeonggung, out through Gwanghwamun, straight down the grand avenue of the Six Ministries, and all the way to Unjongga—it was quite a trek. Yet I was full of energy. The stamina I had built up while scaling the hills of the Rear Secret Garden served me remarkably well, and above all, the breathtaking novelty of a living, breathing Joseon left no room for fatigue.
True to its name, which meant ‘a street where people gather like clouds,’ Unjongga was packed with a staggering crowd. Accustomed to the serene, orderly silence of palace courtyards, I found the sheer crush of humanity almost shocking.
Holding my hand in an iron grip, Seol-hyang maneuvered through the throng with uncanny agility.
“Bong-bong, let's buy some yellow sealwort taffy!”
“Yes! I want some!”
“Bong-bong, let's get some rainbow sugar balls too!”
“Yes! Let's!”
“Bong-bong, how about some pan-fried flower rice cakes?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
We made a point of devouring anything that looked remotely interesting. Consequently, long before any proper mealtime, my stomach was round as a drum.
We were strolling along, happily munching our snacks, when suddenly—
Gurgle—!
An ominous rumbling sound erupted from right beside me.
“Hamanim? Are you all right?”
“Uh… um…”
The sound had originated deep within Seol-hyang's midsection. Looking up at her, I saw that her face had drained of color, turning as white as a sheet of mulberry paper.
“M-My stomach suddenly hurts so much… Oh dear, this is bad…”
“Don't you need to find an outhouse?”
“Y-Yeah… Ah…”
Frantically scanning our surroundings, Seol-hyang pulled me under the shade of an ancient ginkgo tree that looked at least several centuries old.
“Bong-bong. I have to run to the outhouse, so stay right here and don't take a single step away. Understand?”
“Yes. Don't worry about me.”
“Even if someone tries to buy you something delicious, you must absolutely, under no circumstances, follow them…!”
Ah. So even Seol-hyang has officially categorized me as a shameless glutton…
GURRR-GLE!
“Urgh! I'll be right back! You can't go anywhere, promise me!”
In sheer panic, Seol-hyang turned and sprinted toward an alley lined with fabric shops and taverns.
Well, this actually worked out nicely.
Now that I was on my own, I had the leisure to truly take in my surroundings. I leaned back against the tree and observed the passing crowd at my own pace.
It was a rich tapestry of humanity. Some swaggered past draped in opulent silks, noses tilted high, while others knelt in threadbare rags, begging for alms. There were pack peddlers hauling mountainous bundles on their backs like performing strongmen, alongside roving hawkers crying out their wares. Over in one corner, a lively gambling ring had gathered over card games, while nearby merchants haggled fiercely over bolts of cloth.
Whew. My head is spinning just looking at it all.
It seemed I had adapted so thoroughly to palace life that I had become a bona fide royal country bumpkin.
As I craned my neck to watch the spectacle, a sudden commotion broke out nearby. It seemed a scuffle had erupted around a modest three-cup shell game stand set up just down the road.
What's going on over there?
At that exact moment, a thunderous, dignified roar ripped through the bustling air:
“This is utterly irrational!”
Huh?
What in the world was with that bizarrely grand, intellectual declaration?