Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Change the Course (1)
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Even though I'd decided not to bet my future on Yeongjo anymore, that was just my own resolve—the reality remained cold and unforgiving.
Yeongjo still held all the money, the military, and the legitimacy. He was an absolute monarch unlike any in Joseon's history, one of the few you could count on one hand.
I had considered using Animal Friends for an assassination, but it seemed impossible.
If I could charge a horse at him right in front of the king, unleash a dog, or sneak a venomous snake into his bedroom, I'd just shoot him with an arrow myself. Dying right after Yeongjo did would be the same either way.
So what about remote methods, like using birds?
But animals' recognition skills made it hard to identify the king specifically.
Magpie or crow, unless I guided it closely like with that last crow, it wouldn't work. Homing pigeons fly to their nests, not to specific people.
Honestly, right after getting released from the Office of Secret Service, I couldn't let go of the idea and tested it, but no dice.
The crow that flew to Jangbok after my begging and bribes fled the moment he got angry and swung a stick at it.
Watching that, I realized it wasn't just intelligence—physical capability was the issue too.
How could a bird kill a person? If it were possible, someone in falconry-famous Joseon would have tried it by now.
Poison? Nothing that lethal from a mere brush exists in this era. Joseon excels in physics but lags in chemistry.
This must be the game's rule too. Given the status window's design, it wouldn't hand out one-shot solutions easily.
No, in those transmigration comics from my past life, they had every cheat ability under the sun—what's mine? Why does it only overlap with isekai hero stuff in Vitality Enhancement?
Kim Unhaeng's thinking wasn't wrong.
His ability boiled down to top-tier beast tamer at best, and if animals could freely assassinate, monarchs worldwide would be hot potatoes. What makes it hard for humans to kill kings makes it just as tough for animals.
In the end, the key was money and the military. With those, the king wasn't that scary.
As the abdication wave neared its end, Yi Geum began taking aggressive measures.
Politics aside, the government's functions were buckling practically. Spring, the agricultural economy's cycle, was approaching. Yi Geum had reason to hurry too.
Even considering Yeongjo's fame for being close to the people, Yi Geum's populist rampage was unprecedented.
He went to markets and military camps, rallying merchants and soldiers.
Yi Geum issued edicts as if he'd never exiled any officials, creating Joseon's first market overseer in the Council of Public Administration—a concurrent post called the Market Supervisor of the Tribute Hall.
Park Mun-su and Jo Yeong-guk, appointed that day, hastily gathered merchants and trained them on the king's order to prepare a public rally immediately. Rumors swirled that Jeju-bound Park Mun-su tossed his bundle and cursed up a storm, but that's just tabloid fodder.
Luckily, wise Joseon folk got the message with one "Watch your step."
Anyone who's worked a job knows: even unreasonable orders from the top brass get done, creaky or not.
Plus, Joseon's national pension alchemist Park Mun-su was on it. The event was "somehow" ready soon enough.
Yi Geum appeared before the people, insisting this was no staged show.
Tears streaming, he said,
"I intend to abandon you all."
In plainer terms: "Dear subjects, keep supporting me."
Whether sharp folks sensing his desperation or just cold bystanders wanting indoors, all shouted in unison,
"How can Your Highness abandon your children-like subjects?"
"Withdraw your edict!"
Or in translation: "Crab Sauce King! Oath of loyalty!"
Kim Unhaeng briefly wondered if the guy was a North Korean returnee.
The military followed suit, with Five Army Camp commanders directing high officers to petition against abdication. More courtiers than soldiers, they had flag captains and company leaders lead the charge.
With oaths from military and treasury secured, Yi Geum called on the Dowager's palace.
"The people's will is so fervent I'll withdraw the edict, but I reported to the late queen and True Hall before leaving Heojeong Hall, so I can't just return. I'll at least inform True Hall verbally, and if the late queen permits withdrawing abdication, I'll come back."
But here, history diverged.
The Dowager didn't issue an edict denying permission only to backpedal under threat, avoiding embarrassment.
The abdication declaration was purely the king's tantrum; the order withdrew abdication and even absurd regency.
Yi Geum desperately wanted to storm the Dowager's palace but held back. The alliance of Dowager, Crown Prince, and courtiers was impenetrable for now.
'I'll teach them a lesson later.'
Yi Geum compromised by withdrawing only the abdication, excusing regency as age-related, not anger. The Dowager's side accepted, not pushing further.
Thus ended the abdication wave of Yeongjo's 28th year, shaking Joseon.
But unlike the prior five, this one left intriguing traces.
Like wave patterns on tidal flats where sand meets mud.
Countless wriggles lurked beneath that dark mire.
Among them, the quietest yet vastest was one modern man's sticky, insidious persistence, like the mudflats themselves.
Barring treason or dignity breaches, Joseon kings rarely ordered punishments directly—far less often than you'd think.
Policy or penalty, officials proposed with justification; king approved formally. Emotional purges like the last Gate of Refined Flowers shutdown got rolled back quick.
That's why Yeongjo had me snipe Jo Jae-ho.
It went smoothly. Too smoothly—scary smooth.
The current Chief State Censor was Kim Jin-sang, who arrived during my caning.
Simply put, the Censorate's genius. He'd done it ten times already; shortages from exiles filled with old pros.
Unlike his name, he wasn't a bad superior. After Yeongjo, most nuisances barely register.
Problem: hardcore Noron partisan.
He'd once blocked Gyeongjong from mourning his birth mother (Jang Hui-bin; Crab Sauce's game was two lowborn powerhouses' pride clash).
Yeongjo saw him as Tangpyeongpa and promoted him, but he resigned insisting he wasn't, proving Noron zeal whenever possible.
So Kim Jin-sang overzealously targeted Jo Jae-ho.
"Assuming the lofty Minister of Personnel seat as an unfinished traitor's talentless hack was wrong from the start. Now inheriting his father and uncles' (Jo Mun-myeong, Jo Hyeon-myeong) grudge, slandering the Kim Changjip family—how dare he approach the ancestral shrine?"
"W-Well, not that far..."
"I know your position; stay put. You impeaching as Inspector General of Secret Service looks like revenge for your caning."
If you know, tone it down? I planned to cite Jo's own resignation crime—locking up the sister of a woman pregnant with royal seed, face-loss offense.
Humiliating, sure, but abdicating over it? Injo would've quit nine times straight.
I aimed for "Beat me senseless, I felt no grudge—loyalty forever" smokescreen. A gentleman's revenge is never late, even after ten years.
But eager Kim Jin-sang pushed too hard.
"His Majesty must've meant for you to speak up. Put your name last; I'll lead as principal petitioner—fitting."
Oh, nice? You'll take the heat.
I'll spin it as Noron pressure forcing my Small Faction jab.
With future goals (revised), I can't hold grudges against Small Faction, Yeongjo's foes.
My Noron Kim Unhaeng faction's identity embraces even old traitor South Faction in grand unity—no stretch.
Sorry, Kim Jin-sang, but your scandals shrink hardliners in Noron and Small alike.
Textbooks say Yeongjo's perfect Tangpyeong, Jeongjo's near-perfect.
Forget that. Joseon's court gets Chun-sik Tangpyeong.
Tangpyeong isn't that grandfather-grandson's patent.
True originator: Joje-ron by old Yulgok Yi I.
Factions aren't one right, one wrong—employ both, hear all: yangsi-yangbi (both right, both wrong) core of Joje-ron.
Not their "All equal slaves to king—isn't that Tangpyeong?" malicious twist.
Yulgok, as all know, Western Faction founder.
True Western heir? Undebatably Noron; among them, my house and I embody Four Ministers' orthodoxy purest.
Thus, academically aligned with Yulgok, naturally righter than Yeongjo. He and Jeongjo lack standing to discuss Tangpyeong.
So I praised the Chief State Censor's wisdom.
"Words beyond my grasp, sage."
"Hmm. Between us, you're Jeong 4th rank now—gear up against those moderates (Small Faction) for council ascent. Lacking experience, I'll demonstrate personally."
You're barely Jeong 3rd council yourself. Just spinning Censorate-Chief Censor-Deputy Junior Scholar? Those transcend Jeong 3rd, sure.
Office wisdom: don't say it. I bowed thanks and left the Censorate.
Home, Se-hwa waited at the gate, greeting warmly.
"Cold out—why?"
"Urgent news for you."
Hm? What?
Capital morals patrol relapse biting me? Still prohibition; short-term post anyway (Yeongjo appointed solely for Jo Jae-ho), so I rushed a second Gold Orchid Office to squeeze max—reckless?
But not that.
"Crown Prince sent aides everywhere for wound salve. Ginseng, mugwort, white orchid root, viper, centipede, bear bile—every good drug boiled in a house physician's secret recipe."
Stuff not for wounds in there?
Se-hwa whispered closer,
"Generous words too: repaid red measles cure with tribute elixir—how not reciprocate as superior? Seems poised for heavy use ahead."
Forgot salve instantly.
Crown Prince said that officially, sent openly?
Huge progress.
Bully victims aren't weaker physically—teens aren't pro fighters. Worst case, juvenile delinquents can grab knives.
It's power dynamics frog-boiled away fight urge.
Iljin essence: social skills and enslavement over brawls. Yeongjo's grandmaster there.
Flip with one thing.
Victory experience.
Once—even once—win, then it's skill matchups.
This abdication wave gave Crown Prince that.
He flaunted building retinue (like Gyeongjong-era dad). Indirectly outing Yi Geum skipping his meds: bonus.
Obviously ousted Mun clan's palace aides/eunuchs. Crown Prince temper? Maybe killed—but no hasty Mun now.
Who advised? If self-thought... Noron Kim Unhaeng path clear.
Se-hwa tugged my sleeve.
Lost in thought, I startled, followed inside.
Room entered, she unpacked "Crown Prince salve." Black gunk—uneasy.
"Quick, apply. Staff poison kills sturdy men instantly. I worried sick."
"Days ago. Healed now."
"Heard ministers during Highness' measles? All ills cured when rebound hits. 'Nine baskets for mountain, fail one'—Book of Documents—how much more your precious body? Pants off."
Yangban lady quotes classics then shocks?
"I-I'll do it."
"How? No eyes on occiput. I'll help."
"Get someone else..."
"Expose privates to outsiders? Refusing Crown Prince's gift: disloyal. Must now."
No check? "Applied" suffices.
After tussle, Se-hwa yanked pants boldly. Healed but sore—I unwittingly leaned.
"Ah!"
"See? Still hurts. Heard caning extra vicious—you agonized."
"Who spread—rumor? Endured that brutality silent, ow, stings—not."
"Doesn't look it?"
I lay meek. Better salve quick than prolong.
"Oh my. Reddened still. How painful."
She applied.
Ingredients nagged.
Famed lineage doc house—fine? Joseon house prestige makes sense: generational proof.
Then, status window popped.
Knew it ignores context, but timing lately feels malicious.
Ah, Yeongjo, tired of dragging, approved quick.
Farewell, Minister Jo Jae-ho.
I pulled strings hard—self-exile (homebound) or mid-exile (near capital) max. Remember my grace.
Good, enough for E-grade gacha. Save more.
Core objective skill reward?
No instant skill like usual.
Server upgrade?
Adjusting what?
"Omitted" since unreadable language. Civil service over coding—maybe I'd parse it.
Meaning clear enough.
'Rebelling against king... not standard route after all!'
No "treason" in Ascension Chart. Unforeseen even for them?
That thought smiled me amid unknown ahead (winced as Se-hwa touched wound).
At least some hypothesis right.
They have purpose, use me for it.
Contract intact, can't discard me.
Orbit shift gain or loss? Unknown.
Irrelevant. Twisting these bastards' plans matters more.
"Beneficial, so obey"? No. Yeongjo flips anytime.
I control. Not you.
I felt Sado Seja's thrill against father now.
Crown Prince scored first subversive win.
Me too.
But next, seeing course-altered skill panicked me slightly.
What?
Courtier's insult to neighbor king as "rat," stormed out when besieged, got sliced—that guy's patience?
Why patience first?
Does this mean beatings galore ahead?
Author's Note
1. The Tribute Hall Market Supervisor was indeed first created around Yeongjo 28th year, December, with Park Mun-su and Jo Yeong-guk as pioneers—historical fact. Around then, in-story market/military loyalty rallies happened, so linked here.
2. Joje-ron and Tangpyeong briefly mentioned, but scholars pondered faction fixes from start. Kim Unhaeng's the malicious twister, though.
3. Ointment (go) salve was traditional alongside decoctions, pills, powders. Often blackish. In-story "throw everything good, boil thick for poultice" common Joseon method.