Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The Twisting Scales (2)
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No matter how much of a blow he'd taken, Yi Geum was not on the same level as the Crown Prince.
Yi Geum didn't rush over weeping and calling for Kim Unhaeng like the Crown Prince had.
Even if Kim Unhaeng, still a greenhorn despite his slyness, might have some clever scheme, Yi Geum had no intention of relying on it.
How many kings had delegated tasks to a competent minister just to avoid the hassle, only to end up effectively controlled by the information that minister managed, all because they lacked any real plan or backbone?
All the strings had to remain in the sovereign's hands. Lose control, and it was over.
In the end, what Yi Geum needed wasn't a "countermeasure." He would devise the countermeasures himself.
Kim Unhaeng was just a cog in the machine.
To execute this grand design, Yi Geum decided to deal with the most pressing issue first: the Lady Mun affair.
Amid the chaos, Yi Geum had grasped the situation to some extent.
Of course, his affections didn't shift based on evidence. He still believed the Lady Mun case was a frame-up.
But in the politics Yi Geum knew, rumors spread this far turned even lies into truth.
There was no doubt Yi Geum loved Lady Mun.
But he loved himself hundreds of times more.
Yi Geum cut off all visits to the High Scholar's Hall entirely. It was to avoid further clashes with the Dowager's palace.
Lady Mun, who had sobbed in grievance, rolled on the floor, and even whipped maids to draw attention, collapsed in despair. Even the chance to defend herself was gone.
However, Lady Mun wasn't immediately dragged to the interrogation chamber.
Yi Geum told those demanding an investigation into the incident:
"Strictly interrogate the criminal Mun Seong-guk and record his confession. As for Palace Maid Mun, her guilt is not yet certain, and she carries the royal grandchild, so await her delivery."
With these words, Yi Geum smoothly stripped the Crown Prince of authority over the Lady Mun investigation.
Even if it merely repeated the Crown Prince's orders, once the king spoke, it fell under his purview thereafter.
Moreover, the decree that she "carries the royal grandchild" implicitly warned that the Crown Prince could not judge a palace maid who was practically his stepmother.
There was yet another implication.
If Yi Geum, in rage, executed Lady Mun and her unborn child together, it would amount to killing his own offspring.
The court would gossip (out of sight, of course).
"Even dogs protect their pups and bite their master—can a man really kill his own child in an instant? Is that child truly the royal grandchild?"
"Lady Mun had a lover outside originally, and they say not only the son she tried to bring in from outside but the child she's carrying now are that man's."
"Well, with His Majesty's age, even with Dog-Beating Stick Kim's prowess, it must have been impossible. Maybe Lady Mun couldn't endure the loneliness and brought back her old lover?"
"Hey, wasn't there something similar during Emperor Yongle's time?"
"No, wait—there were rumors like that during the previous reign too..."
And so on, spawning every manner of sordid drama. Regardless of Yi Geum's favor, Lady Mun had to be "politically" innocent.
Of course, if that were all, Jo Jae-ho, the Judge of the Royal Secretariat actually handling the criminal's interrogation, might not have complied.
Thus, Yi Geum's words also contained a hint to appease the ministers.
Yi Geum abandoned Lady Mun's brother, Mun Seong-guk.
This signaled he wouldn't let Lady Mun retain her position either. In Joseon, kin were one body in both advancement and crime.
After deliberation, Jo Jae-ho, Park Mun-su, and Lee Jongseong decided to compromise with the king here.
What they wanted was stabilizing the Crown Prince's position through Lady Mun's ousting—not staging a coup.
Retracting the abdication would be even better, but that required the Noron heavyweights to step in.
And that was precisely what Yi Geum awaited.
In just one day, Mun Seong-guk's execution was decided.
Lady Mun was "not complicit in the crime but guilty by association through her brother's stain on the king's virtue" and stripped of her title as consort, expelled from the palace. People only whispered healthy rumors like, "Even so, he couldn't bring himself to kill his own child."
Since the confession records were heavily doctored anyway, they didn't expand the fallout. Three pregnant women were released, and those serving the Mun siblings were exiled beyond the capital—that was the extent.
Meeting Jo Jae-ho face-to-face, Yi Geum inquired about that point.
"Surely among the soldiers under your command or the low-ranking officials guarding the capital, some tried to smuggle things in. Was nothing revealed about them in the confession?"
Jo Jae-ho was momentarily baffled, wondering why the king was pushing this. Hadn't the king wanted minimal scope?
But the next instant, Jo Jae-ho realized this might be the king's grace.
In fact, Jo Jae-ho had spotted a tantalizing name in the testimonies.
Mun Seong-guk had confessed to colluding with Kim Unhaeng.
But since Park Mun-su had already explained the situation, Jo Jae-ho had rationally let it go. The king was a far greater foe than some Kim Unhaeng.
Yet now the king was specifically pointing to "low-ranking officials."
Jo Jae-ho answered cautiously.
"The name of Kim Unhaeng, Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Military Affairs, came up from the criminal's mouth. But as a Dongban civil official, albeit low-ranking, we couldn't arrest him on mere suspicion."
Yi Geum smiled with satisfaction.
The intelligence gathered by moving his crab faction in the shadows had been mere circumstantial evidence.
But this time, his claw had struck true.
Struggling not to grin, Yi Geum said,
"Before the stern national law, how can there be high or low? Arrest Kim Unhaeng immediately. I shall interrogate him personally."
The news of Kim Unhaeng's sudden arrest shocked Se-hwa second.
But she didn't faint. Knowing most of what he was up to, she had anticipated the danger to some degree.
Se-hwa calmly rallied her subordinates. She reported to her father-in-law, Kim Yonggyeom, and sought pardons by contacting those Kim Unhaeng had "bestowed favors" upon.
Thus, the first to be shocked wasn't family.
It was Crown Prince Yi Hwon.
"Kim Chunsik has been thrown into the Royal Secretariat prison!"
In the Crown Prince's eyes, who overestimated himself, this naturally looked like his father's retaliation.
Having defied his father over Lady Mun, now his close aide was being targeted first. Exactly the tactic King Gyeongjong had used on Yi Geum himself.
The Crown Prince glanced at the sword in the corner of the room.
But unless it was the Crown Prince ten years from now, whose mind had utterly broken, such thoughts remained mere fancy.
So the Crown Prince turned to Crown Princess, who had brought the news.
"We must secure his pardon somehow. You inform Commander of the Royal Guard Hong Bonghan and arrange to petition the Grand Royal Dowager at the right moment."
The Crown Princess saw her husband caring for someone for the first time. She quickly brushed aside a dark suspicion that surfaced and asked,
"What will Your Highness do?"
"I'll go beg forgiveness from Father."
That had become the Crown Prince's daily routine lately. Yi Geum still hadn't retracted the abdication decree, so the Crown Prince had to prostrate himself outside every day before returning.
Previously, he wouldn't budge even after ten edicts, but since defying over Lady Mun, he returned after nine, then eight the next day, and so on.
Of course, no one thought his filial piety was waning.
Enduring showed utmost devotion regardless of health; obeying and entering showed perfect obedience to his father's words.
This interpretation, mainly from the Dowager's palace, soon became orthodoxy. As it came from Lady Kim of Inwon, whose strict restoration of lax palace etiquette in late Joseon is still praised today, no one dared contradict.
From Yi Geum's perspective, after handling Lady Mun, the next task was breaking the Crown Prince and the Soron.
He couldn't forgive the Crown Prince for violating heavenly principles and mocking his father, nor the Soron for repaying his hard protection from the Noron with this treachery.
He wanted to execute them all (son included), but even Yi Geum couldn't manage that amid such humiliation.
So Yi Geum went out to the Gate of Exemplary Conduct again and bellowed.
"My lack of virtue has caused this ugly affair, yet why don't you ministers carry out the abdication as intended? Even middling kings of Han and Tang were not like me. Officials of the Office of Annals, go at once to Ganghwa Island (referring to the Jeongjoksan Repository) and research precedents of former abdications."
The ministers wholeheartedly agreed with the king's decree. As he said, the man hadn't even hit average.
If it weren't winter with the Han River frozen, the Office of Annals officials would have raced out, hiring (greatly increased due to flat hats) boatmen to depart. Even the Crown Prince, half-heartedly wailing prostrate for the order to be withdrawn, seemed to share the sentiment.
Then entered Lee Jongseong, Leader of the Soron and Chief State Councillor.
Yi Geum decided to start with the head.
"Entering with your office still intact by the king's grace, where is your gratitude prostration? Prime Minister, perform the gratitude prostration per protocol before entering!"
Lee Jongseong complied, curious how far the ugliness would go. The other officials looked equally fed up.
Yet he was still the king.
His personality grated, but he'd never massacred people or lost royal dignity in suppressing rebellions. Hadn't he handled the Lady Mun case quite rationally?
So many ministers placated him with their usual lines.
About his precious health, the pitiable Crown Prince, new edicts from the Dowager's palace, and so on.
But one man couldn't hold back any longer.
Park Mun-su, Prince Yeongsung, bearer of the glorious nickname "mad talker" (bestowed by the king himself).
As Kim Unhaeng assessed, Park Mun-su loved what modern internet folk called "one-liners"—cynical jabs digging at weaknesses for that thrill.
He'd held back considerably before the king (this was "considerably"), but seeing him imprison Kim Unhaeng and humiliate Lee Jongseong snapped his limiter.
"Your Highness knows full well the ministers cannot comply, so why do this?"
The Dowager had said something similar, but not in this mocking tone. Nor before so many.
Yi Geum flew into a rage.
"Is Prince Yeongsung checking the king for his faction?!"
"Your Highness knows best that I'm isolated in my faction with no close allies."
Though respected in the Soron, the practical bureaucrat Park Mun-su cared little for factional strife itself.
Lee Jongseong and Jo Jae-ho led the Soron infighting. Joseon factions were often defined more by involuntary blood ties and scholarly lineages than voluntary ideology, differing from modern parties.
Yi Geum bellowed, nearly forgetting his goal.
"Then you, Prince Yeongsung with no factional line, obey this order!"
"This has nothing to do with factional lines. If I obey, all ministers will denounce me. How could they not unite in remonstrance?"
Here, impartiality shone again. Noron heavyweight Kim Sang-ro backed Park Mun-su.
"Indeed, Prince Yeongsung is right. Such a man deserves the court's united denunciation."
Yi Geum pulled out his ultimate move for when words failed: turning to the Crown Prince.
"The Crown Prince shows filial piety upfront but deceives the court behind—so let's see your true heart. I shall now recite the 'Lü O' chapter (from the Book of Songs, on filial piety). If your piety is genuine, you'll weep; then, per the ministers' pleas, I'll withdraw the abdication."
No one worried what if he didn't cry.
Tears don't come only from soft emotions like sorrow or感動.
Sure enough, the Crown Prince wept profusely before "Lü O" was half-read. Merely recalling memories with his father would make any man burst into tears of rage.
Weeping, the Crown Prince said,
"I've shamed the royal house above and unjustly imprisoned a loyal minister below—all my unfilial crimes. Punish this subject severely and depose me."
If the king had an "abdication declaration," the Crown Prince had a "deposition declaration."
Like the king, there was no alternative beyond Crown Prince Sado, and he'd crushed the near-alternatives, so he could say it.
Unsurprisingly, this was mirror therapy from Kim Unhaeng's letter. Even Yi Geum couldn't hide his "When did this kid grow up?" expression.
Lee Jongseong, anxious for the Crown Prince, stepped forward.
"The Crown Prince has shed tears, so Your Highness must not break your word."
But if Yi Geum yielded to ministers after eating his words before the Dowager, he'd never live it down.
"That's difficult. You refuse to heed the abdication, so you're saying even the ministers' acceptance when the late king named me Crown Prince and ordered regency was all wrong."
Park Mun-su piped up again.
"Then and now differ. Your words are excessive now; no need to drag up the past and equate them."
Yi Geum stomped.
"How dare Prince Yeongsung speak thus! Exile Prince Yeongsung Park Mun-su to Jeju Island!"
Park Mun-su showed no fear. After so many such incidents, why would he?
This is why overusing punishment loses effect. It's also why corporal punishment nations don't lower crime rates.
So Yi Geum resorted to the inevitable when harsh penalties failed.
Escalate further. Much like a drug addict's downfall.
"Exile today's assembled Three Dukes, ministers, privy councillors, and clerks to the islands!"
One might think he was declaring Joseon's maritime empire expansion.
The ministers scattered with cold inward sneers ("You gonna rule alone tomorrow?"), outwardly kowtowing abjectly and begging forgiveness.
The events at the Gate of Exemplary Conduct that day mirrored history closely.
But unlike before, where it was just ideological grilling and fact-checking of the Crown Prince and ministers, this time the Crown Prince's defiance over Lady Mun signaled full oppositional stance—not mere self-preservation.
From Yi Geum's view, sacrificing even favored Park Mun-su to warn the Soron cost too much.
Yet superficially, it looked like the king raging and the subordinates bowing as always.
So Yi Geum believed his plan proceeded smoothly—even when heading for Kim Unhaeng's personal interrogation to handle the last of the Soron trio, Jo Jae-ho.
Dragged to the interrogation hall, I quietly looked down at myself.
This cheap rags were a first for me.
Forget the thin singlet's chill—the tightly bound ropes chafed my skin raw and painful. Gotta ask Se-hwa for some spit later.
Looking back, I'd been pretty cocky.
This situation fell into the "worst-case" category but within my anticipated range.
Still, facing it for real ramped up the tension.
What were these horrific torture devices lined up beside me? Why were that massive rock and sizzling branding iron in Joseon's interrogation hall? Didn't you, the king, ban those by law?
I tried to stay calm.
Barking dogs don't bite; yelling thugs cursing won't really stab. If they're just scaring with that, odds are it's nothing serious.
But honestly, scary.
Joseon interrogations were brainstorming-style: drag in anyone named and beat first. So I'd taken ten lashes on day one—hurt like hell.
Thus, the terror felt all too real.
I defended myself as best I could.
My "consistent testimony," combined with fellow detainee Gang Deuk-hae's "alternative consistent testimony," maximized credibility.
Gang Deuk-hae came to me for delivery help; I agreed to assist with a mere package—that was our clean story's core. Worlds apart from traitor Mun Seong-guk's ravings.
This showed sincerity in aligning with Yeongjo's face.
Torture was irrelevant anyway; I'd long known Yeongjo had no intent to punish me.
With Lady Mun already deposed and gone, dredging up cuckoo nonsense would just amplify his shame?
This mirrored my past dismissal over the ranch affair. Psychological warfare on both flanks to shake morale.
After this, granting "grace" by release would make cornered me gratefully obey, he figures.
Classic Yeongjo, never considering I'd hold a grudge.
But Yeongjo seemed rushed this time. Uncharacteristically direct demands.
"I ordered your arrest on the Judge's suspicion, but Kim Unhaeng appears innocent. Release him and appoint to Censor of the Office of Inspectors (Senior 4th Rank)."
Out-of-nowhere promotion. Se-hwa won't know whether to grieve my beating or celebrate the rise.
Yeah, seeing Jo Jae-ho's melted raccoon face over there trying to eat cotton candy in the wash, I get it.
You're innocent; it's all false accusation by grudge-holding Jo Jae-ho—so snipe him from the Office of Inspectors?
Fine, I'll do it. Gotta complete my quest anyway.
But "after that," it won't go your way.
As someone witnessing this abdication wave not from history books but live, I've decided.
Can't ride with that guy. Beyond personality, not a politically reliable partner.
Yeongjo's mistakes: two major ones.
First, oppressing the Soron he'd posed as savior for, on whims—destroying dual-faction balance credibility. Second, using Noron me to take out Soron Jo Jae-ho, splitting Noron-Soron.
That's denying impartiality.
And since impartiality is Yeongjo, and Yeongjo is impartiality, it's perfect self-denial.
In other words, confessing impartiality policy was mere political ploy for self-gain, not national good.
Yeongjo's scales, lording over Joseon in "fairness's" name, began twisting in this sixth abdication wave.
Yeongjo's errors are understandable.
Viewing everyone as tools, he couldn't foresee the puppy-like Crown Prince suddenly rebelling—backed by unseen forces like the Dowager and those like me who'd abandoned him through similar paths.
Court and military show no signs yet; still peaceful.
But to me, Yeongjo's regime and policies have collapsed.
No thanks to playing fool in that crumbling house.
How much have I cleaned up your messes so far, repaid like this?
Watch from now on.
I'll show you how one "fuck this" shifts history.
Not grudge over ten cane strokes on my ass. I'm a grown man.
This Kim Unhaeng is a true Neo-Confucian scholar.
As Mencius said, the sovereign exists for subjects and altars of state.
All for the people (me)'s country, Joseon.
Author's Note
1. During Emperor Yongle's reign, a palace maid's affair with eunuchs was exposed. A tortured eunuch heroically shouted, "You're old and useless at night, so the maid seeks young eunuchs—why vent on us?" before dying. Naturally omitted from Ming Veritable Records, but a Joseon envoy happened to be in Beijing then, so it's in Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.
Also, the "previous king's rumor" stems from crab game's era to Yi In-jwa's Rebellion, rumors Yeongjo's mother was a lowborn whose origins were unknown, so he wasn't Sukjong's son.
2. Ordering Lee Jongseong to prostrate, ideological tests on Crown Prince, etc., are well-known history. Park Mun-su's boldness—all actual quotes.
But not all at Gate of Exemplary Conduct; various defiance remarks over meetings condensed into one event. From Park Mun-su to "all ministers" there—all exiled to islands (soon recalled).
3. "Even middling Han/Tang kings weren't like this"—unlike in-story self-deprecation, it was the historian's snarky note during the abdication wave.