Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Operation Name: Cuckoo Hunt (1)
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As the Crown Prince had said, Lady Mun had already begun laying the groundwork from this point to have her own son (future) inherit the throne.
The first person she planted around the Crown Prince was for that very reason.
Led by Mun Seongguk and the other attendants, they effectively took control of the Eastern Palace, and just as Lady Hye-gyeong Hong would later curse in the Records of Hanjung, they exaggerated and reported all sorts of misdeeds by Crown Prince Sado to King Yeongjo.
And that was exactly what Yeongjo wanted to hear.
Lady Mun's channel, which received Yeongjo's likes, subscriptions, notifications, and even sponsorships, definitively contributed to Sado's downfall.
This may have been one reason Yeongjo favored Lady Mun so much. Mun Seongguk would later rise to a core position in the Gyeongja faction.
Yet despite all this, Lady Mun failed to leave her name in the Joseon Annals as the king's mother because she couldn't bear a son.
But Lady Mun drew wisdom from ancient precedents.
All the deepest evils possible to humanity had already been exemplified in the Spring and Autumn Warring States period.
There were even two famous cases. Lady Mi of Qin and Lord Chunshin of Chu were both strongly suspected of having beauties they impregnated with their own children sent to the king to usurp the royal line.
Sons aren't something you wait for. They're something you create.
Lady Mun had been scouting for a surrogate boy child in preparation for the possibility that she couldn't bear a son herself.
There were still three or four months until the due date, but scrambling to find one at the last minute would surely miss the timing, so she prepared in advance for the switcheroo.
Unlike Lady Mi or Lord Chunshin, who gambled without even knowing the fetus's gender, she chose a more certain method.
This was the difference between ancient barbarians from before Christ and an 18th-century civilized person.
Lady Mun spoke with the calm demeanor befitting a civilized woman.
"You think the Crown Prince has caught on?"
"Yes. What should we do? It's said that Kim Chunsik, a junior clerk in the Ministry of Military Affairs, already met with him."
The attendant who had been hit with porcelain and nearly cracked his forehead came rushing back to report, and the news reached Lady Mun immediately.
How could a mere palace maid engage in such secretive whispers? But Lady Mun had already made Goseohyeon her hideout.
Its proximity to Geungeokdang in Changgyeong Palace, the quarters of the late Queen Consort Hyeon, revealed Yeongjo's favor.
Yeongjo didn't stop there; he even assigned her a dedicated eunuch. That's why he dared to be insolent to the Crown Prince's birth mother.
However, Mun Seongguk wiped sweat from his brow anxiously.
"If we don't block it, it'll become a problem. Can't you report to His Majesty that the Crown Prince met with a subject privately?"
"From what I heard, didn't the Grand Royal Heir already order the lesser royal heir to attend to official duties, so that's where he went? He came prepared with a perfectly legitimate excuse, so it won't work. It might even look like we're shooting ourselves in the foot by overreacting."
"R-right. Sigh, he's no ordinary man. What do we do now?"
Lady Mun found her cunning brother's pathetic state utterly pitiful. Once he received his title soon, even as her brother, Mun Seongguk wouldn't be able to treat her as a mere little sister anymore.
"Why make such a fuss over a mere junior clerk? Is this Kim Chunsik some royal in-law or what?"
"You wouldn't know, no, probably even the court ministers don't. But in the shadowy corners of the capital, everyone knows Kim Chunsik's cunning and brutality. Even thugs and beggars who fear nothing in the world fold at the mention of his name."
The Dog-Beating Stick faction, spanning the markets and Songpa Ferry, was still actively operating under the guise of the legitimate private lending business of Samhwadae.
Under Se-hwa's overall command in place of the busy Kim Unhaeng, Lee Jae-un, Pyo Cheol-ju, and Chae I-seong cooperated closely.
They had already absorbed the thugs from Songpa Ferry and had ample manpower, but the three-digit workforce of Chunsik Delivery's land and water couriers were also set up to join immediately in case of 'unavoidable disputes' with the Dog-Beating Stick faction.
On top of that, Kim Unhaeng had connections in both the Training Command and the Royal Guard, so no one could oppose them with violence. The name of the Dog-Beating Stick was no longer small in Seoul's underworld.
Of course, Kim Unhaeng had no official ties to them.
A yangban lending money to a moneylender and charging interest was just a 'respectable family affair' everyone did. So even if someone suspected, no one could call them out. They'd get caught in the same net themselves.
But the lowly folk sensitive to power dynamics knew exactly what the 'reality' was.
Mun Seongguk's family was, at best, on the fringes of commoner status. The fact that his and Lady Mun's mother had been a nun said it all.
That's why even Mun Seongguk, experienced in dirty and lowly deeds, knew the name Kim Chunsik.
Lady Mun thought for a moment before speaking.
"Then have your underlings tail him. A guy like that must be up to something suspicious somewhere, so report it first and make him lose credibility. Simple."
"But they say he always travels with a nine-foot giant...... Plus, isn't it said that Kim Chunsik sank a pirate ship in one shot with a Great General Arrow from Hwanghae Province?"
Lady Mun finally clicked her tongue.
"How pathetic. If a man fears every little thing like that, when will he ever accomplish anything big? If word leaks anyway, it's not the giant or the bow that's the problem."
Only then did Mun Seongguk snap to attention. He hurried out.
I had one thing to confirm.
"Though my words may be presumptuous and disrespectful, Your Highness must hear them. Without trust between lord and subject, no task can succeed."
"I haven't heard of Grand Emperor Gao of Han rebuking Zhang Liang rudely when he broke chopsticks to offer counsel. I will listen attentively to any words."
Hey, don't use weird analogies. That could get us in big trouble if overheard.
You wanna rebel like Grand Emperor Gao and found a kingdom? For real? Even if you hate books, come on.
Thinking that far, I glanced at the Crown Prince's expression.
But the Crown Prince didn't look like someone blurting out anything in haste.
Only then did I recall another anecdote about Grand Emperor Gao.
Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, when Xiang Yu threatened to boil his father if he didn't surrender immediately, quipped, "Give me a taste of dad's broth too."
The effect was tremendous. He achieved the great feat of calling the guy who massacred 200,000 surrendering troops a bastard son of a bitch.
No. That's too far. You can't boil your dad in hot water.
The Crown Prince seemed lost in some strange imagining, but I had not the slightest intent to incite rebellion. As I said earlier, this Kim Unhaeng's heart holds nothing but unwavering loyalty.
But my proposal might offend the Crown Prince more than outright treason.
So I broached it carefully.
"I am deeply grateful, but didn't Princess Hwa-hyeop pass away just recently?"
Crown Prince Sado's face hardened.
Princess Hwa-hyeop was the half-sister who, along with Crown Prince Sado, handled hygiene for King Yeongjo's ears.
Just as with Sado, Yeongjo washed his ears every time he saw her and dumped the water toward her side. She might've ended up in the water torture chest with him if she'd lived longer.
Oddly, despite hating her so much, when she died of measles, Yeongjo ignored his subjects' dissuasion and spent the night at her residence.
The subjects weren't dissuading because they hated her too. A king visiting his married-out daughter's home privately blurred the lines between palace and court, encouraging royal in-laws to overstep.
So Chae Je-gong (now demoted from Royal Secretariat Scribe to Junior Royal Library Erudite) bravely remonstrated alone to show the Southerners' presence, but such a low-level petition was ignored.
Yeongjo would only respond to someone at the level of Pan Jungchubu Inspector Kim Yak-ro. When he, as Royal Pharmacy Supervisor, warned that the king's health might suffer and escorted him back, Yeongjo finally revealed his reason.
"My health suffers solely due to party strife—how could it be from mourning my daughter!"
I hope my interpretation isn't too extreme. Alive as ear-cleaning atonement, dead as a Noron skewer—poor Princess Hwa-hyeop.
Kim Seong-eung, the Training Command Captain who failed to prepare the escort guards on time due to watching the Noron ministers' faces, got arrested "again."
I'd lost track of the season's arrest count. Why hasn't that guy rebelled yet?
And from here, it's definitely a change caused by me: Yeongjo summoned the Royal Guard instead and went to the princess's home.
I'd bet on it. Even if the Training Command, founded by his ancestor, had assembled at top speed, Yeongjo would've punished them. He needed to parade the Royal Guard upfront to boast, "I still hold the fetal sword."
But if Yeongjo thought he could use and discard Princess Hwa-hyeop so conveniently, that was a mistake.
Having only shown favoritism after her sudden death, he couldn't publicly forgive anyone infringing on her honor, no matter his personal feelings.
That was the point I aimed for.
Among Yeongjo's children, excluding the son he killed with his own hands, Crown Prince Sado, many died young.
And among those, at least two cases involved rather archaic methods.
None other than "curses."
That bizarre crime openly punishable by death in the legal code.
Cursing is a uniquely Joseon "crime of intent." In modern times, it'd be an impossible, unpunishable thought crime not even worth filing, but Joseon isn't barbarian, so punishment is decided by rudeness, not legal logic.
But "intent" isn't a concept proven by causal evidence like physical proof.
Intent is emotion. And to make others believe someone's emotions, impact trumps facts.
Not being provable also means easily denied—but conversely, easily affirmed.
Faking a UFO photo is child's play without smartphones.
Science not advancing is truly a blessing.
To execute this stratagem concretely required several supernatural elements I couldn't tell even Se-hwa about (not because secret, but she wouldn't believe).
I explained it as plausibly as possible without those parts. The Crown Prince, having said what he did earlier, couldn't get mad but couldn't hide his discomfort.
"Hmm. But how could we commit such a heinous act......"
"Even Grand Emperor Gao, as Your Highness mentioned, killed many innocent meritorious retainers to stabilize the realm. This harms no innocent—why hesitate? All for safeguarding the royal line."
The Crown Prince's eyes wavered.
"All for...... safeguarding the royal line......"
"Exactly. As Your Highness said, Lady Mun and her brother are likely preparing a commoner boy as a secret spare if she can't bear a son. If this unspeakable sin occurs, the 300-year ancestral shrine ends in ruin! Above all, think of the royal grandsons!"
At my blood-spewing admonition, the Crown Prince finally straightened and clenched his fist. Fathers are strong.
"Indeed. How can I be so indecisive and miss the moment? Even if it brands me guilty in history......"
"Guilty? What words are those? Your Highness's noble resolve will surely be praised by countless scholars in posterity."
The Crown Prince nodded gravely.
Good, he's hooked.
Phew. Next skill better be hypnosis—no more of this hassle.
I first praised him on behalf of those "countless future scholars." Then I said,
"Of course, this alone isn't enough. Those currying favor with Lady Mun for power will defend her as absurd, so we need one more."
Just witch accusations are too weak.
Joseon is far more civilized than Europe; people don't flip out and demand burning witches.
So if Yeongjo tries protecting her, punishment isn't guaranteed.
Yeongjo truly grits his teeth at those he hates, but showers endless favor on those he likes without regard.
Lady Mun is clearly the latter. The Crown Prince, the former.
Thus, mix in a real crime too.
Lady Mun is highly likely searching for a commoner boy. Or already found one.
That's treasonous enough for history books, but I suggested the curse hassle first for a simple reason.
In any era or country, political investigations start with the crime decided—they don't find crimes through investigation.
I might not even find Lady Mun's spare son, and if I did, Yeongjo could cover it up.
Common sense says cover for a palace maid attempting a cuckoo adoption?
And soaring lust at a daughter-in-law's coffin is common sense? Yeongjo's hate isn't the only irrational thing. His love is too.
Mobilize every means to rig the board.
First, shock everyone with Joseon's greatest curse incident, making the court clamor for her punishment.
Amid the uproar, drop the "real crime"—the prior curse auto-convicts too.
Separately, Yeongjo could shield; combined, synergy makes it hard.
From now, it's less helping the Crown Prince—it's my business.
After the price paid to save the royal grandson, I can't let Lady Mun and her bastard prince stupidly steal the throne.
Sorry, but you gotta disappear.
For Joseon's rightful future.
To avoid later nitpicks, do it thoroughly.
So I solemnly reported the Pyeongseon-gwan settlement to the Crown Prince, who gladly accepted the report sure to please his royal father.
After the "state affairs report," I went home, napped, and waited.
Curses require night.
Not occult reasons. My curse needs operate mainly at night.
As curfew bells rang, I headed out with Eoji and Chobok-i, the neighborhood genius dog already famous.
Lady Mun wields influence over palace staff, but can't match the Crown Prince's overt power.
So I held the Crown Prince's mulgeumcheop night pass.
Absurd to call it tiger hunt escort. Mulgeumcheop? Gyeongja faction mass-produces and sells to thugs. Mine's practically official.
So I leisurely strolled the capital, enjoying the night walk.
Not 21st century, no leash. Chobok-i's too gentle to bite.
Chobok-i showed typical outdoor dog behavior.
Sniffing excitedly everywhere, poking around.
Hey, you actually looking for what I told you?
Suddenly, Chobok-i turned and barked fiercely.
My and Eoji's gazes naturally turned back. Who's out at night?
Our eyes saw nothing.
But at night, a dog's nose is 100 times more reliable than human eyes.
'Tail?'
One expected scenario. I calmly activated "Shin Suk-ju's Chastity."
Lately, I'd found an exploit for this skill.
Abilities appear as flame-like auras, so in dark or shadowy spots, even well-hidden bodies glow obviously.
The flames aren't real light, but imagine the target suddenly donning bright, voluminous robes—similar.
So the guy behind, swiftly pressing against the wall corner, was crystal clear.
Feels like hide-and-seek with a four-year-old. Kinda funny.
Stats...... not high. Simple trap suffices.
Unlike Kim Unhaeng's assessment, Eastern Palace attendant Gang Deok-hae considered himself quick to adapt to the times.
So he bet on Lady Mun coin, still at rock bottom, and eagerly volunteered as the Crown Prince's watcher.
He nearly got porcelain-smashed to the afterlife recently, but such trials come with great ambitions.
This secret mission had to succeed.
Catch useful intel on Kim Unhaeng or dispatch him unnoticed—promotion and wealth follow.
Mun Seongguk guaranteed even slave Im Eo-ul-woon, who smashed Kim Jong-seo's head to fulfill all Jurchen dreams, could leap to merit title ignoring status.
Judging scum like him wanders at night, Gang Deok-hae's insight waited—and proved right. Kim Unhaeng emerged.
But he hadn't anticipated Chobok-i. 18th century has no pet walks.
Bark nearly scared him witless; he swiftly hid at the wall corner.
Praise-worthy agility. Gang Deok-hae wondered if he had innate spy talent.
A spy's prime virtue: patience. He endured till Kim Unhaeng lost interest.
Soon, receding footsteps.
Gang Deok-hae cautiously peeked out. Empty.
He hurried to catch up before losing him.
Impossible.
To walk, first stand—but immense force crushed his head, forcing him down.
"Guhk......!"
Neck, back, or ankle— at least one shattered, he was sure.
As he thought to scream, brutish hands gripped both cheeks vise-like.
Gang Deok-hae fully empathized with a sesame seed in an oil press. No scream—just tears.
Before his blurred eyes, a scholar fanning his face appeared.
"Not the rat pup I wanted, but another rat caught. Wanna talk?"
Author's Note
1. During the Chu-Han War, Liu Bang was tempted by strategist strategist Yi Giji's advice to enfeoff descendants of the Six Kingdoms to win hearts, melting lord seals. Zhang Liang entered, breaking table chopsticks one by one, explaining eight impossibilities per chopstick. Liu Bang awoke, remelting the seals—hence "xiaoke (銷刻)," originally accepting advice and revising policy, but in Joseon, it meant "fickle, no consistency."
2. Many Hwa- Princesses might confuse. Here's a simple family tree of Yeongjo's children at story point (survival status):
Jeongbin Yi: Crown Prince Hyojang (deceased), Princess Hwasun (alive)
Yeongbin Yi: Princess Hwapyong (deceased), Princess Hwahyeop (deceased), Crown Prince Sado (alive), Princess Hwan (alive)
Gwirin Jo: Princess Hwayu (alive)
Sukui Mun: Princess Hwaryeong & Hwagil (not born yet)
Yeongjo had two queens, but no natural children from them.
3. Great General Arrow: Joseon navy log arrow fired from Cheonja Chongtong, ~human height (180cm), 30kg+. Not widespread, but famous as largest caliber cannon/ammo.