< Chapter 16: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (9) >
"The King wielded a switch at the Crown Prince," "The ministers were berated by the King"—such major incidents began to spread as rumors throughout the capital.
Though the ministers, worried about losing face, ordered silence, unless it was a state secret, it was only a matter of time before those who loved to talk would let their mouths run.
As a result, the rumors spread at the speed of light. Within five days, there was not a single resident of Hanyang who did not know of the incident in question. And among those who heard the rumors, most of the common people—excluding the conservative scholar-officials—expressed support for Hyang's words.
"Indeed! The Crown Prince's words were not wrong at all! Every time those accursed Ming envoys come, the wailing never ceases!"
"Indeed!"
"Landlady! Bring a large jar of makgeolli here! On a day like this, one must have a proper drink!"
Thus, while many commoners in the capital sent their support to Hyang, there were those who unexpectedly faced tribulation—boys of similar age to Hyang.
From the grandsons and great-grandsons of ministers and scholar-officials at the top, down to farmers' sons at the bottom. Boys of similar age to Hyang had to endure similar scolding.
"The Crown Prince is already so accomplished in his studies that he can engage in debates with ministers, yet what kind of fellow are you! Only now barely learning the Thousand Character Classic! Is this not a shame upon our house!"
"F-Forgive me! This unworthy grandson will strive harder..."
"Silence! Bring the switch!"
"The Crown Prince silences even these self-important ministers, yet you brat do nothing but break neighbors' jars in the village! Fine! Let us hold a funeral today! You there! Bring the thickest switch!"
While sons and grandsons were being scolded and beaten with switches by their grandfathers and fathers, the women who ruled the inner quarters of scholar-official households, beginning with the Ladies of Virtue, turned their attention elsewhere.
"I wonder how Her Majesty the Queen raised the Crown Prince."
"We are curious as well."
"We wish to ask, but due to the recent treason, Her Majesty the Queen has no relatives..."
The women, searching for a connection to the Queen, reached Royal Consort Yeongbin of the Gang clan, one of Sejong's consorts.
"As I understand it, the Crown Prince cultivated his learning on his own."
"Is that so..."
Seeing the ladies' deep disappointment, Royal Consort Yeongbin continued.
"The Crown Prince is first-rate not only in his own studies, but also in his teaching."
"Pardon?"
"The method by which the Crown Prince taught his younger brothers was truly remarkable."
* * *
Hyang, who had been pondering what to do about his younger brothers—especially Suyang—finally reached a conclusion.
"Purging them before they act would have no justification. I'll work them to death! No, I'll work them to death and then work them once more!"
Having reached his conclusion, Hyang immediately put it into action.
"To work them properly, I must make them into properly educated fellows!"
And upon seeing the reality, Hyang placed his hand on his forehead.
"They still haven't even learned the Thousand Character Classic... What am I to do with these..."
Upon hearing the rumor that Hyang had lamented after seeing his younger brothers' academic achievements, Queen Soheon summoned Hyang.
"Crown Prince, it is simply that you are too exceptional; it is not that your brothers are lacking."
"Your Highness, my brothers too have received Father's blood. That Father is a genius of the ages is a fact no one can deny. To show such appearances is a filial act that damages Father's honor. I cannot endure this!"
'Working with those dull fellows only burns my own insides!'
Having made his firm resolution, Hyang devised methods for his brothers' education.
"First, they must at least properly learn the Thousand Character Classic..."
While worrying about the education of his two younger brothers—who would later become Suyang and Anpyeong—Hyang soon created a solution.
Hyang's solution was word cards.
Hyang ordered the Bureau of Painting to create word cards. Paper was pasted on both sides of thick wooden boards, with four characters from the Thousand Character Classic on one side, and drawings illustrating the meaning of the passage on the reverse.
Along with the Thousand Character Classic word cards, Hyang used "carrots"—mostly snacks—and "competition"—pitting Suyang and Anpyeong against each other—to teach them. Combined with appropriate use of the whip, the education produced results: Suyang and Anpyeong completely mastered the Thousand Character Classic in just forty days.
Hyang's education did not end with the Thousand Character Classic. Using pictures depicting the contents of the classics, he explained them through storytelling methods, keeping Suyang and Anpyeong focused on their studies.
"It seems the younger brothers are following along well, so it would be best to continue with this method for the time being."
"We can only marvel at the Crown Prince's teaching method!"
The princes' tutors—who had been struggling with the education of the two princes, especially Suyang who had spent much time at the private residence—bowed their heads in great admiration of the Crown Prince's method.
"Then, until when should we continue this approach?"
"The Four Books and Three Classics require proper attitude from the start, so until then should suffice, should it not?"
"We shall do so."
Meanwhile, upon receiving the report that Hyang had created an innovative method that greatly helped his brothers' studies, Sejong slapped his knee with satisfaction.
"Indeed the Crown Prince! Indeed the eldest son!"
* * *
Having heard of Hyang's teaching method and its results through Royal Consort Yeongbin, the ladies grew heated and restless.
"Is there no way to obtain those teaching tools the Crown Prince created?"
"The Crown Prince ordered them kept safely as he will use them when teaching his other younger brothers."
"Ah..."
"Is there truly no way to obtain them?"
"Well..."
When Royal Consort Yeongbin showed a troubled expression, the agitated ladies pestered their husbands.
"My Lord! You must speak to the Crown Prince!"
"Oh~ I have my reputation to..."
"My Lord! Is your reputation more important than your grandson's education? He is the heir of our family!"
"Hmm... even so..."
"My Lord!"
Ultimately, the high and low officials, unable to withstand their wives' nagging, sought out Hyang.
"What brings you here?"
"Actually..."
Hearing the circumstances from the officials, Hyang gave a bitter smile.
'What am I, some kind of great benefactor?'
In any case, having heard the ministers' grievances, Hyang made his decision.
"I can sell the teaching tools for the Thousand Character Classic. Beyond that requires someone who can teach according to my method, and such people are rare. So we shall do only up to the Thousand Character Classic. Is this acceptable?"
The ministers briefly considered Hyang's words before nodding. Their grandsons were at the age to learn the Thousand Character Classic.
"We would be grateful even for just the Thousand Character Classic."
"Good. The price is one hundred sacks of white rice."
"One hundred sacks of white rice!"
When the ministers recoiled at the unexpectedly high price, Hyang explained the reason.
"One sack among the hundred is for payment to the Bureau of Painting. It covers the materials for making the teaching tools and payment for the painters. Another sack will go into the national treasury. The last sack is for my personal use."
"May we ask what personal use the Crown Prince has?"
"Books can be quite expensive."
One hundred sacks of white rice was by no means a small amount. However, the ladies, anxious about their children's education, paid the hundred sacks without hesitation.
As a result, the painters of the Bureau of Painting received unexpected bonuses and cheered, and Hyang also smiled with satisfaction watching the sacks of rice piling up in a corner of the Eastern Palace.
"Now I can indulge myself a bit more comfortably."
* * *
While the storm Hyang caused kept the court in an uproar, time passed, and the mourning period for Taejong was drawing to a close.
September 6th. The funeral was conducted at Heolleung.
September 18th. Sejong and the ministers gathered at Gwanghyo Hall to perform the final wailing ritual.
And for the first time since Taejong's death, meat was served as a side dish to Sejong.
After the final wailing ritual ended, Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers all wore white mourning robes, black caps, and black sashes.
September 20th. An owl cried, and a warding ritual was performed.
September 21st. Sejong and the ministers finally returned to the side hall and began attending to state affairs.
* * *
Returning to the side hall and resuming administrative duties in earnest, the court began to find its rhythm once more.
Creating and distributing precise scales, reinforcing regulations for those entering the palace gates—Sejong and the ministers busily worked to normalize state affairs that had become somewhat lax during Taejong's funeral.
It was not only Sejong and the ministers who were busy. True to his promise, Sejong had Hyang participate in the royal lectures. Sejong's royal lectures were not simply about lecturing on Confucian classics.
"In the Book of Odes..."
Beginning with mentioning parts of the Confucian classics, Sejong and the ministers engaged in heated debates.
The debates grew fierce not simply from differences in interpreting the classics, but from taking as their subject how to apply Confucian ideology to actual policy.
"Your Majesty! The way of the sages is like golden rules that must be strictly observed and followed!"
The subjects' arguments generally maintained the tone above. The words written in the classics were the teachings left by Confucius and Mencius, so the king should devote himself fully to following those teachings.
"The state's duty is the moral education of the people! In educating the people, moral virtue comes first!"
While ministers deeply immersed in Neo-Confucianism argued for "virtue as the root, wealth as the branch" and "valuing righteousness over profit," Sejong and Hyang, along with the pragmatist ministers, presented opposing arguments and engaged in verbal battles.
"In the Great Yu section of the Book of Documents, the sages made 'governing the world and aiding the people' the ideal of rule by virtue."
"Confucius spoke of the people's prosperity before education, and Mencius said that securing the people's livelihood is the foundation for realizing the Kingly Way!"
The two-horse carriage refuting the ministers' dogmatic Neo-Confucian perspective was Sejong and Crown Prince Hyang. Once a proper debate began in the royal lecture, the old ministers would have to withdraw, drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.
"I thought the Crown Prince was only skilled in miscellaneous learning, but..."
"After being beaten so thoroughly last time, you still think so?"
"In all my life, this is the first time I have feared the royal lectures."
"Would it not be better to request a reduction in the number of lectures?"
During the reigns of Tajo or Taejong, the subjects who used to insist that the king must attend lectures after chasing down kings who fled from them, now found themselves thinking of reducing the lectures.
Unlike the subjects who felt like dying, a smile never left Sejong's face. Since ascending the throne, Sejong had constantly suffered pressure from his subjects.
As the saying goes, "One hand struggles against two," dealing with many ministers simultaneously was difficult even for Sejong, famous for his exceptional learning.
Sometimes through consultation, sometimes through appropriate appeasement, he led state affairs, but overcoming the ministers' numerical offensive was arduous.
"If only there were more ministers who shared my views..."
After ending difficult arguments with his ministers, Sejong would always repeat such complaints. Those like Hwang Hui and Maeng Sa-seong were still in minor positions, and reform-minded subjects were too few.
In this situation, Hyang showing outstanding ability as Crown Prince was a blessing from heaven.
Despite being only nine years old, far from reaching fifteen—the age of aspiring to learning—his academic achievements rivaled his own, and the sharpness of his arguments was even keener than his own.
Once he opened his mouth, ministers whom even his father Taejong and he himself had struggled with would become completely cowed the moment Hyang spoke.
Was it because the mental burden was reduced thanks to Hyang? Sejong regained physical vitality as well. At some point, the skin eruptions that had tormented him largely disappeared, and headaches and shoulder stiffness vanished as well.
"The saying that a child is a treasure seems to be true after all."
"Hohoho! If others heard His Majesty's words now, they would call you a doting father."
"Let them hear!"
Thanks to Hyang, whenever Sejong faced Queen Soheon, he became a doting father.
However, even such a Sejong found Hyang a burden at exactly one moment.
That was mealtime.
"Father! Please do not eat only meat!"
"You rascal! Even a dog is not disturbed during meals!"
"Dogs do not disturb because they are eating! Harmonious eating is the beginning of protecting Father's health!"
To protect Sejong's health, Hyang nagged at every mealtime, and each time, the royal scribes followed and recorded the events.
< Chapter 16: Sprouting... Carcinogenesis? (9) > End
ⓒ Gukppong